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LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

University  of  California. 


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OFFICIAL   PROCEEDINGS 
NINETEENTH   ANNUAL  SESSION 


OF  THE 


TRANS-MISSISSIPPI 

COMMERCIAL 

CONGRESS 


SAN    FRANCISCO,  CALIFORNIA 
OCTOBER   6  TO    10,  1908 


PAST    PRESIDENTS. 


1.  COIi.  II.   I>.    LOVELAND,   California. 

•z.  HUGH   <h\h;.   California. 

».  1).    It.    FRANCIS,    Missouri. 

4.  JOHN    HENRY    SMITH.    Utah. 

5.  WALTER    6RESHAM,   Texas. 

<;.  WM.  JENNINGS   BRYAN,   Nebraska. 


7.  L.    BRADFORD    PRINCE,    N.    M. 

8.  (HAS.     S.     THOMAS,     Colorado. 
!>.  E.    P.    FERRY,    I  tali. 

1».  THEO.   II.    WILCOX,  OreRoii. 

11.  R.    <'.    KERENS,    Missouri. 

12.  JOHN    ll.   KIRBY,  Texas. 


OFFICIAL     PROCEEDINGS 


Of  the  Nineteenth  Session 
of  the 


Trans-Mississippi 

Commercial 

Congress 


HELD     AT 


SAN  FRANCISCO,  CALIFORNIA 

October  6,  7,  8,  9  and  10, 
1908 


Arthur  F.    Francis,  Secretary 
Cripple  Creek,  Colo. 

EDWIN  M.  COOPER,  Official  Reporter 
San  Francisco 


Additional  Copies  of  Report  Will  Be  Supplied  on 
Application  to 

Thomas  F.  Walsh,  Chairman  Executive  Committee,  Denver,  Colo. 

Arthur  R.   Briggs,  Vice-Chairman,  San  Francisco,  or 

Arthur  F.  Francis,  Secretary.  Cripple  Creek,  Colo. 


1908 

Calkins  Publishing   House 

San  Francisco 


Sessions     of     the    Congress    Have    Been    Held    as    Follows. 


First 

Second 

Third 

Fourth 

Fifth 

Sixth 

Seventh 

Eighth 

Ninth 

Tenth 

Eleventh 

Twelfth 

Thirteenth.. . 
Fourteenth.    . 

Fifteenth 

Sixteenth 

Seventeenth.... 

Eighteenth 

Nineteenth 


Date 


June. 

May, 

Oct., 

Feb., 

April, 

Feb.. 

Nov., 

Nov., 

July, 

May, 

April, 

July. 

Aug., 

Aug., 

Oct.. 

Aug., 

Nov., 

Nov., 

Oct., 


1890 
1891 
1891 
1892 
1893 
1894 
1894 
1895 
1897 
1899 
1900 
1901 
1902 
1903 
1904 
190o 
1900 
1907 
1908 


City 


Galveston,  Texas .... 
Denver,  Colorado. . .  . 

Omaha,  Neb 

New  Orleans.  La 

Ogden,  Utah 

San  Francisco.  Cal . . . 

St.  Louis,  Mo 

Omaha,  Neb 

Salt  Lake  City,  Utah. 


President 


W.  M.  Fishback Arkansas 

E.  P.  Ferry Utah 

Chas.  S.  Thomas Colorado 

L.  Bradford  Prince ....  New  Mexico 

W.   J.    McConnell Idaho 

H.  R.   Whitmore Missouri 

Geo.  Q.  Cannon Utah 

Wm.  Jennings  Bryan.  .  .  .Nebraska 

Hugh  Craig California 

Wichita,  Kansas E.  O.  Stanard Missouri 

Houston,  Texas J.  R.  G.  Pitkin Louisiana 

Cripple  Creek,  Colo Walter  Gresham Texas 

St.  Paul.  Minn John  Henry  Smith Utah 

Seattle,  Wash John  H.  Kirby Texas 

St.  Louis,  Mo Richard  C.  Kerens Missouri 

Portland,  Or Theo.  B.  Wilcox Oregon 

Kansas  City,  Mo David    H.     Francis Missouri 

Muskogee,  Okla Col.  H.  D.  Loveland California 

San  Francisco,  Cal J.   B.  Case Kansas 


Note:  April  14-17,  1891,  was  the  date  of  the  First  Western  States  Congress, 
held  at  Kansas  City,  Missouri,  called  by  the  legislature  of  Kansas;  Senator 
H.  B.  Kelley  being  the  author  of  the  resolution.  Honorable  D.  R.  Francis, 
then  Governor  of  Missouri,  was  President  of  the  Congress.  This  Congress 
with  the  deep  water  harbor  convention  and  the  Trans-Mississippi  Commercial 
Congress  which  had  assembled  in  the  Cotton  Exchange  at  Galveston,  were 
merged  at   Denver,   May,   1891. 


J.    B.    CASE,    Ahileue,    Kansas. 
President. 


ADDRESSES  AND    PAPERS 


President's  Address    J.  B.   Case 

Message  from  Theodore  Roosevelt  Wm.  R.  Wheeler 

Assistant  Secretary  Department  Commerce  and  Labor 

Message  from  Twenty  Latin  Republics John  Barrett 

Director-General  Pan-American  Bureau 

Work  of  the  Congress Arthur  F.  Francis 

Western  I nsurance  , Col.  Fred  W.  Fleming 

Trans-Mississippi — What  Does  It  Mean? Benjamin  Ide  Wheeler 

Transportation    J.  C.  Stubbs 

Conservation  of  Our  Natural  Resources John  C.  Cutler 

Governor  of  Utah 

National  Conservation  Commission Dr.  George  C.  Pardee 

Mining  and  the  Conservation  of  Minerals James  F.  Callbreath    Jr. 

Irrigation  and  Disposal  of  Public  Lands W.  H.  Dickson 

Attorney-General,  Colorado 

Conservation  of  Our  Natural   Resources  and   the  Preservation  of   Our  Funda- 
mental Political  Conditions  and  Constitutional  Principles.  .Frank  H.  Short 

Inland  Waterways Col.  W.  F.  Baker 

Reclamation  of  Arid  Lands  C.  J.  Blanchard 

Live   Stock    Industry Col.  Ike  T.  Pryor 

Future  Greatness  of  California Fletcher  E.  Cutler 

Drainage Robert  T.  Devlin 

Pacific  Ocean  Commerce George  W.  Dickie 

Good  Roads J.  M.  Eddy 

Los  Angeles  Viaduct  J.  B.  Lippincott 

Trans-Mississippi   Commercial   Congress   (Origin) A.  G.  Stacey 

Oil   Industry  of  California   L.  E.  Blochman 

Pony  Express Greene  Majors 

Carnegie  Institute   Hon.  Wm.  W.  Morrow 

Alaska-Yukon-Pacific   Exposition J.  W.  Howell 

Mare   Island    Navy  Yard A.   C.  Rulofson 

Preservation  of  Our  Fishes David  Starr  Jordan 

Creamery  and   Dairy   Interests W.   F.  Jensen 

Dry    Farming Arthur  R.  Briggs 


189849 


OFFICIAL  ROSTER 

TRANS-MISSISSIPPI  COMMERCIAL  CONGRESS 

Twentieth    Annual  Session  Meets  in  Denver,  Colorado 
[Auditorium],  August  16-21,  1909 


President — Thomas  F.   Walsh,    Denver,   Colorado. 
First   Vice-President — X.   G.    Larimore,   Larimore,   North   Dakota. 
Second  Vice-President — Charles  A.   Fellows,   Los  Angeles,  California. 
Third   Vice-President — A.   C.    Trumbo,    Muskogee,    Oklahoma. 
Fourth   Vice-President — Herbert  Strain,   Great   Falls.   Montana. 
Secretary — Arthur    F.    Francis,   Cripple   Creek,   Colorado. 
Treasurer — Fred   Moffat,    Denver,    Colorado. 

EXECUTIVE    COMMITTEE. 

Chairman — Ike  T.  Pryor,   San  Antonio.   Texas. 
Vice-Chairman — Sam  F.  Dutton,  Denver,  Colorado. 

ADVISOR V    COMMITTEE. 

Chairman — Arthur   R.    Briggs,    San    Francisco,   California. 
Vice-Chairman — James   H.   Brady,   Pocatello,    Idaho. 

Members- — W.   O.    Hart,    New    Orleans,    Louisiana:    John   Henry   Smith,    Salt 
Lake  City,    Utah;    Tom    Richardson,    Portland,   Oregon. 

CONGRESSIONAL  COMMITTEE. 

Chairman — Fred   W.      Fleming,   Kansas   City.    Missouri. 

Vice-Chairman — J.   B.   Case,   Abilene,   Kansas. 

Ed   F.    Harris,   Galveston,    Texas. 

J.   D.   Phelan,  San  Francisco,   California. 

H.   P.   Wood,   Honolulu,   T.  H. 

L.  Bradford  Prince,  Santa  Fe.  New  Mexico. 

Colonel  H.  D.  Loveland,  San  Francisco,  California. 

Alva    Adams,    Pueblo,    Colorado. 

STATE    VICE-PRESIDENTS. 

Alaska — W.   B.  Hoggett,  Juneau. 

Arkansas — C.  R.  Breckenridge,  Fort  Smith. 

Arizona — W.  T.  F.  Donald,  Phoenix. 

California — A.  L.  Darrow,   Sacramento. 

Colorado — James  H.   Peabody,   Canon   City. 

Iowa — Levi    Baker.    Shenandoah. 

Idaho — Frank   R.   Gooding,   Boise. 

Kansas — J.   W.   Creech,   Herington. 

Louisiana — W.    W.    Galliard,    Donaldsville. 

Minnesota — Tarns  Bixby,  St.  Paul. 

.Montana — D.   R.    Peeler,    Kalispell. 

Missouri — Edward  L.  Scarrett,  Kansas  City. 

Nebraska — Henry   T.    Clarke,    Omaha. 

Nevada — J.   B.   Waterhouse.  Reno. 

New  Mexico — George  Curry,   Santa  Fe. 

North  Dakota — H.  F.  Arnold,  Larimore. 

Oklahoma — C.  K.  Luce,  Woodward. 

Oregon — A.  H.  Devers,  Portland. 

Philippines — John   Gibson,   Manila. 

South  Dakota — Dr.  R.  L.  Smith,  Ree  Heights. 

Texas — C.  C.   Slaughter,   Dallas. 

Utah — John  Henry  Smith,  Salt  Lake  City. 

Washington — J.   W.   Howell.    Seattle. 

Wyoming — W.    S.    Collins,    Basin. 

T.  P.  A. — Orrin  S.  Henderson,  Stockton. 

U.  C.  T. — Robert  Starr,  San  Francisco. 


MEMBERS     EXECUTIVE     COMMITTEE. 

Alaska — B.  M.  Behrends,  one  year;  J.  H.  Tarn,  Nome,  two  years. 

Arkansas — W.  H.  Harvey,  Monte  Ne,  one  year;  George  Sengel,  Fort  Smith, 
two  years. 

Arizona — Andrew  Kimball,  Thatcher,  one  year;  A.  M.  Conant,  Phoenix,  two 
\  ears. 

California — Colonel  H.  D.  Lovcland,  San  Francisco,  one  year;  O.  H.  Miller, 
Sacramento,   two  years. 

Colorado — Charles  A.  Stokes,  Denver,  one  year;  Arthur  F.  Francis,  Cripple 
Creek,    two    years. 

Hawaii — H.  P.  Wood,  Honolulu,  one  year;  Walter  F.  Frear,  Honolulu,  two 
years. 

Idaho — Marcus  A.  Means,  Lewiston,  one  year;  James  H.  Brady,  Pocatello, 
two  years. 

Iowa — H.  McCartney,  Thurman,  one  year;  Robert  Hunter,  Sioux  City, 
two  years. 

Kansas — J.  B.  Case,  Abilene,  one  year;  John  Dudley,  Kansas  City,  two 
years. 

Louisiana— J.  S.  Dixon,  Natchitoches,  one  year;  W.  O.  Hart,  New  Orleans, 
two  years. 

Minnesota — B.  Magoffin,  Duluth,  one  year;  Hubert  Eva,  Duluth,  two  years. 

Montana — Herbert  Strain,  Great  Falls,  one  year;  J.  H.  Strain,  Great  Falls, 
two  years. 

Missouri — Fred  W.  Fleming,  one  year;  George  J.  Tansey,  St.  Louis,  two 
years. 

Nebraska — George  F.  Milbourn,  Minden,  one  year;  W.  J.  Evans,  Ogallala, 
two    years. 

Nevada — Richard  A.  Riepe,  Ely,  one  year;  Oscar  J.  Smith,  Reno,  two  years. 

New  Mexico — W.  C.  Barnes,  Albuquerque,  one  year;  L.  Bradford  Prince, 
Santa  Fe,  two  years. 

North  Dakota — H.  C.  Plumley,  Fargo,  one  year;  N.  G.  Larimore,  Larimore, 
two  years. 

Oklahoma — D.  P.  Marum,  Woodward,  one  year;  J.  J.  Gerlach,  Woodward, 
two  years. 

Oregon — Tom  Richardson,  Portland,  one  year;  Peter  Loggie,  North  Bend, 
two  years. 

Philippines — Daniel  O'Connor,  Manila,  one  year;  M.  L.  McCollough,  Manila, 
two  years. 

South  Dakota — Homer  Johnson,  Armour,  one  year;  J.  A.  Ross,  Sioux  Falls, 
two  years. 

Texas — H.  H.  Gaines,  Galveston,  one  year;  W.  W.  Turney,  El  Paso,  two 
years. 

Utah — George  Romney,  Salt  Lake  City,  one  year;  L.  W.  Shurtliff,  Ogden, 
two  years. 

Washington — Henry  E.  Reed,  Seattle,  one  year;  George  C.  C'ongdon,  Seattle, 
two  years. 

Wyoming — A.  G.  McGregor,  Cheyenne,  one  year;  Eli  Crumrine,  Cheyenne, 
two  years. 

T.  P.  A. — J.  Roy  Stafford,  St.  Louis,  one  year;  Charles  Griffith,  two  years. 

U.  C.  T. — Watt  R.  Sheldon,  Denver,  one  year;  M.  Allison,  Texas,  two  years. 


■ 


BY-LAWS  AND  RULES 


(Revised  at  Kansas  City  Session,  1906.) 

The  Trans-Mississippi  Commercial  Congress,  organized  for  the  purpose  of 
promoting  the  commercial  interests  of  the  states  and  territories,  in  whole  or 
in  part,  west  of  the  Mississippi  River,  has  adopted  the  following  rules  and  reg- 
ulations   for    its    government: 

ARTICLE  I — MEMBERS. 

1.  Any  resident  of  the  territory  named  may  become  a  member  of  the 
Congress,  on  application  to  and  approval  of  the  Executive  Committee,  by  the 
payment  to  the  Chairman  of  said  committee  of  the  sum  of  five  dollars  ($5.00) 
annually,  and  such  members  shall  be  accredited  to  their  respective  states  or 
territories.  Residents  outside  the  territory  may  become  members,  subject  to 
the  approval  of  the  Executive  Committee,  such  members,  however,  not  being 
entitled  to  vote,  but  in  other  respects  are  accorded  all  the  privileges  of  dele- 
gates. 

2.  Representation  shall  be  confined  to  the  states  and  territories  situated 
wholly   or   in    part  west   of  the   Mississippi   River. 

Every  business  organization  shall  be  entitled  to  appoint  one  delegate, 
and  an  additional  delegate  for  every  fifty  members.  The  Mayor  of  each  city 
or  town  may  appoint  one  delegate  for  every  5,000  inhabitants;  but  no  busi- 
ness organization,  city  or  town,  shall  have  more  than  ten  (10)  delegates. 
The  Governor  of  each  state  and  territory  may  appoint  ten  (10)  and  not  more 
than  twenty  (20)  delegates.  The  Governors  of  states  and  territories,  mem- 
bers of  the  United  States  Congress  are  ex-offieio  members,  with  all  the  priv- 
ileges of  members,   except   those   of  voting  and  election   to   office. 

3.  The  Executive  Committee  is  authorized  to  extend  invitations  to  any 
person  to  attend  any  session  of  the  Congress,  and  to  take  part  in  its  discus- 
sions; such  persons  shall  have  all  the  privileges  of  delegates  except  those  of 
voting  and  election  to  office.  The  names  and  addresses  of  all  persons  thus 
invited   must  be   reported   to  the   Congress   at  its   opening   session. 

4.  The  United  Commercial  Travelers  and  the  Travelers'  Protective  Asso- 
ciation shall  each  have  all  the  rights  and  representation  of  a  state  or  ter- 
ritory. 

ARTICLE    II — MEETINGS. 

1.  The  annual  meetings  of  the  Congress  shall  be  held  prior  to  the 
sessions  of  the  National  Congress,  at  such  place  and  time  as  fixed  at 
the  previous  session,  or  the  time  may  be  left  by  the  Congress  to  be 
fixed  by  the  Executive  Committee.  No  city  shall  be  selected  which  does 
not  guarantee  to  pay  the  expenses  of  the  Congress,  including  the  neces- 
sary preliminary  advertising  and  the  printing  of  the  proceedings;  and  in  case 
such  guarantee  be  forfeited,  the  Executive  Committee  shall  have  power  to 
change  the  place  of  meeting. 

2.  The  Secretary  shall  keep  a  register  of  the  names  and  addresses  of 
all  members  and  of  all  delegates  of  whose  appointment  he  is  officially  advised, 
showing  by  whom  such  appointment  has  been  made,  and  such  register  shall 
be  accepted  by  the  Congress  as  the  official  list  of  members  and  duly  accre- 
dited  delegates. 

3.  Each  member  of  the  Congress  shall  be  entitled  to  one  vote,  provided 
that  no  state  or  territory  shall  cast  more  than  thirty  votes;  if  more  than  thirty 
members  are  present,  each  shall  be  entitled  to  his  fractional  part  of  said 
thirty  votes,  when  a  state  or  territory  shall  be  represented  by  less  than  ten 
members,  it  shall  be  entitled  to  ten  votes. 

ARTICLE   III — OFFICERS. 

1.  The  officers  of  this  Congress  shall  be  a  President,  four  Vice-Presidents 
at  large,  a  Secretary  and  a  Treasurer,  to  be  elected  by  the  Congress  at  each 
session,  and  to  hold  office  until  their  successors  are  elected;  and  a  Vice-Presi- 
dent from  each  state  and  territory,  to  be  elected  as  hereinafter  provided. 
The  President  shall  not  be  eligible  to  re-election  until  at  least  one  year  shall 
have   elapsed   since   his   term   of  service. 

2.  The  annual  election  of  officers  shall  take  place  at  the  opening  of  the 
session  on  the  last  day   of  the  Congress,  and  the  officers  shall  be  inaugurated 


during  said  day  and  shall  hold  office  until  the  inauguration  of  their  successors 
on   the  last  day   of  the  succeeding  Congress. 

3.  The  duties  of  the  officers  shall  be  those  usually  pertaining  to  their 
positions.  The  President  shall  preside  al  all  meetings,  and  in  his  absence 
the  Vice-Presidents  shall  preside  In  the  order  of  their  precedence.  The  Treas- 
urer may  be  called  upon  to  furnish  a  bond,  by  requirement  of  the  Congress 
or   its    Executive  Committee. 

ARTICLE    IV — COMMITTEES. 

1.  The   committers    of   the   Congress   shall    be   as    follows: 
Committee   on   Permanent   Organization. 
Committee    on    Resolutions. 

Executive    Committee. 
Advisory    Hoard. 
Congressional    Committee. 

2.  The  Committee  on  Permanent  Organization  shall  consist  of  one  mem- 
ber  from    each    state    and    territory. 

The  Committee  on  Resolutions  shall  consist  of  two  members  from  each 
state  and   territory. 

The  Executive  Committee  shall 
two  members  from  each  state  and 
each  year. 

The  Advisory  Hoard  shall  consist  of  Ave  members,  to  be  appointed  by 
the  President  or  Congress  during  its  session,  or  by  the  Executive  Committee 
thereafter. 

The    Congressional    Committee    shall    consist    of    five    members,    to    be 
pointed   each   year  by   the  President  or  Congress  during  its  session,   or   by 
Executive    Committee    thereafter.      This    committee    shall    hold    office    for 
years. 

3.  At  the  afternoon  session  of  the  first  day  of  each  annual  meeting  the 
members  present  from  each  state  and  territory  shall  present  names  for  the 
following  positions: 


consist   of   the   seven   general    officers   and 
territory,    one    of    whom    shall    be    elected 


a  li- 
the 
two 


A    State    Vice-President    of    the    Congress. 

One    member    of    the    Committee    on    Permanent    Organization. 

Two    members    of    the    Committee    on    Resolutions. 

any  time  before  the  last  day  of  the  session  they  shall  present  the  name 

member  of   the    Executive   Committee   to   serve  for  two   years. 


1. 

2. 

3. 

At 
of  one 

•  4.  The  Executive  Committee  shall  have  general  charge  of  the  work  and 
Interests  of  the  Congress,  during  its  recess,  and  unless  otherwise  ordered  by 
the  Congress,  shall  act  as  a  Committee  on  Order  of  Business  during  its  ses- 
sion. It  shall  have  control  of  the  funds  of  the  Congress,  but  no  obligation 
shall  be  incurred  beyond  the  amount  of  unappropriated  funds  in  the  treasury. 
It  shall  elect  its  own  chairman,  and  the  Secretary  of  the  Congress  shall  be 
its  secretary.  It  shall  have  power  to  fill  all  vacancies  among  officers  or  com- 
mittees  occurring  while   the  Congress   is   not   in   session. 

5.  The  duties  of  the  Committee  on  Permanent  Organization  shall  be  to 
nominate  the  seven  general  officers,  before  the  end  of  the  third  day  of  the 
annual    session. 

0.  The  Committee  on  Resolutions  shall  receive  all  resolutions  that  are 
introduced,  and  report  all  such  as  in  its  opinion  should  receive  the  favorable 
consideration    of   the   Congress  as   promptly    as   practicable. 

7.  The  Advisory  Board  may  be  consulted  at  all  times  by  the  officers  or 
the  Executive  Committee  of  the  Congress  and  shall,  with  the  chairman  of 
the  Executive  Committee  and  the  secretary  of  the  Congress,  have  supervision 
over  the  program. 

8.  The  Congressional  Committee  shall  bring  to  the  attention  of  the  Con- 
gress  of  the  United  states  or  officials  of  the  Government,  personally,  if  pos- 
sible, ail  of  the  proceedings  of  the  Congress  which  require  action  from  the 
United   states  Congress  or 


such    officials. 


\UTM1.E    V — RULES. 

1.  The  sessions  of  the  Congress  shall  open  at  10  a.  m.,  2  p.  m.,  and  7:30 
p.  m.,  unless  otherwise  determined  by  the  Congress. 

2.  Cushing's   Manual   shall   govern   the   deliberations   of  the  Congress. 

3.  All  resolutions  shall  be  submitted  In  writing  in  triplicate,  with  name 
of  mover  and  of  state  to  which  he  belongs,  and  shall  be  referred  to  the 
Committee  on  Resolutions  without  debate,  but  the  mover  shall  be  allowed 
three  minutes  for  explanation,  if  desired.  The  duplicate  copies  shall  be  re- 
tained by  the  Secretary  for  the   official   record  and   for   the   newspapers. 


4.  No  subject,  which  has  been  made  a  party  issue  in  politics,  shall  be 
placed  on  the  program,  nor  shall  any  resolution  referring  to  any  such  subject 
be  considered. 

5.  On  the  report  of  each  resolution  it  shall  be  open  to  debate,  the  intro- 
ducer being-  allowed  to  open  the  discussion,  and  no  member  to  speak  more 
than  twice.  The  opening  speech  shall  be  limited  to  ten  minutes,  and  all  others 
to  five  minutes  each. 

6.  Papers  and  addresses  made  shall  be  limited  to  twenty  minutes. 

ARTICLE  VI — ORDER   OP  BUSINESS. 

The  order  of  business  at  each  daily  session  shall  be  as  follows,  unless 
otherwise  ordered: 

1.  Introduction    of   resolutions. 

2.  Reports    of    committees. 

3.  Discussion  and  vote  on  committee  reports. 

4.  Reading  of  papers    or   addresses    on   subjects    named    in    program. 

5.  Miscellaneous. 

Selection  of  place  for  holding  next  convention,  special  order  for  4  o'clock 
next  to  last  day  of  session. 

ARTICLE    VII — AMENDMENTS. 

These  rules  and  regulations  may  be  amended  by  a  majority  vote  of  the 
Congress,    after    one    day's    notice    of    the    proposed    amendment. 


FREE  FORUM  FOR  THE  WEST 

TRANS-MISSISSIPPI    COMMERCIAL    CONGRESS 


OFFICIAL  CALL 

To  the  Chambers  of  Commerce,  Boards  of  Trade,  Committees  of  Publicity, 
Commercial  Clubs,  Manufacturing,  Mercantile,  Maritime,  Live  Stock  and 
Immigration,    Irrigation    and    Drainage    Organizations;    also 

To  the  Governors  of  states  and  territories,  Mayors  of  cities  and  Boards  of 
County  Commissioners: 

The  Nineteenth  Annual  Session  of  the  Trans-Mississippi  Commercial 
Congress  is  hereby  called  to  meet  in  San  Francisco,  California,  October 
6,  7,  8,  9  and  10,  1908. 

REPRESENTATION. 

The  Governor  of  each  state  and  territory  may  appoint  ten  (10)  dele- 
gates and  not  more  than  twenty   (20)   delegates. 

The  Mayor  of  each  city  one  (1)  delegate  and  one  (1)  additional  delegate 
for  each  5,000  inhabitants,  provided,  however,  that  no  city  shall  have 
more  than  ten  (10)   delegates. 

Each  county  may  appoint  one  (1)  delegate  through  its  executive  officer. 

Each  business  organization  one  (1)  delegate  and  one  (1)  additional 
delegate  for  every  fifty  members,  provided,  however,  that  no  such  business 
organization   shall   have   more   than   ten    (10)    delegates. 

Governors  of  states  and  territories,  members  of  the  Congress  of  the 
United  States,  and  former  presidents  of  the  Trans-Mississippi  Commercial 
Congress  are  ex-officio  members,  with  all  the  privileges  of  delegates  except 
voting. 

Permanent  members  of  the  Trans-Mississippi  Commercial  Congress 
have  all  the  privileges  of  delegates,  except  when  such  permanent  member 
resides  outside  the  Tra.ns-Mississippi  section,  in  which  case  he  is  entitled 
to  all  the  courtesies  of  the  Congress  except  voting.  Permanent  members 
resident  of  the  Trans-Mississippi  section  act  and  vote  with  the  delegates  of 
their  respective  states  and  territories. 

SUBJECTS   FOR   DISCUSSION. 

The  Executive  Committee  submits  the  following  subjects  as  germane  to 
the  objects  of  the  Congress,  and  upon  these  a  free  and  full  discussion  is 
invited.     They  follow: 

Irrigation  and  Drainage. 

River   and   Harbor   Improvement. 

Leasing  of  Public  Lands. 

Dry    Farming. 

Alaska. 

Statehood. 

Parcels   Post  and    Postal    Hanks. 

Trans-Pacific  Trade. 

Closer  Trade  Relations  with  the  l.atin   Republics. 

Public  Ownership  of  Utilities. 

Panama  and  the  Canal. 

Hawaii  and  the   Philippines. 


Immigration. 

Live  Stock  Industry. 

National  and  State  Aid  for  Highways. 

Sugar  Beet  Industry. 

Alaska-Yukon-Pacific  Exposition. 

National  Finances. 

An  Enlarged  and  Improved  Consular   Service    in  the   Far  East. 

The  Pan-American  Railroad. 

Inter-State    Commerce. 

CONSERVATION    OF    NATURAL    RESOURCES. 

The  Executive  Committee  directs  special  attention  to  the  conservation 
of  natural  resources  which  was  recently  emphasized  by  President  Roosevelt 
by  a  conference  of  governors  of  the  various  states  held  in  Washington, 
D.  C,  May  16,  1908.  As  this  question  closely  affects  the  reserved  rights  of 
the  states  of  the  Trans-Mississippi  section  in  relation  to  the  forests,  the 
national  reserves,  the  leasing  of  the  public  domain,  internal  waterways 
and  the  utilization  of  power,  and  the  development  of  mineral  and  other 
resources,  etc.,  it  is  the  desire  of  the  Executive  Committee  that  a  full 
analysis  of  these  matters  should  be  made  to  the  end  that  the  administration 
may  be  accorded  such  intelligent  co-operation  from  these  states  as  may 
be  consistent  with  the  general  good.  In  order  to  obtain  the  best  results, 
the  Executive  Committee  has  made  provision  in  the  program  for  the 
Commission  and  a  special  invitation  has  been  extended  the  members  to 
appear  personally  before  the  Congress. 

DEPARTMENT  OF   MINES  AND   MINING. 

Whilst  the  Executive  Committee  feels  gratified  at  the  action  of  the 
National  House  of  Representatives  in  passing  the  bill  for  the  Bureau  of 
Mines,  and  is  pleased  with  the  assurance  that  favorable  action  will  be 
taken  by  the  Senate  and  that  the  President  will  sign  this  bill,  yet,  never- 
theless, the  Executive  Committee  enumerates  among  the  special  subjects  for 
discussion  that  of  a  Department  of  Mines  and  Mining,  believing  that  the 
great  mining  industry  will  not  be  adequately  recognized  until  a  department 
of  Government  is  created  co-ordinate  with  the  Department  of  Agriculture. 

INLAND    WATERWAYS. 

The  action  of  President  Roosevelt  in  recreating  the  Inland  Waterway 
Commission  brings  the  subject  of  a  supplemental  system  of  cheap  trans- 
portation again  to  the  attention  of  the  business  interests  of  the  country. 
The  Executive  Committee,  believing  that  the  questions  herein  involved  are 
not  only  of  great  importance  to  the  people  of  the  Mississippi  Valley  and 
those  upon  the  tributary  streams,  but  is  of  equal  importance  to  the  people 
of  the  Pacific  Coast  and  the  Pacific  Northwest  and  to  the  inland  states  of 
the  Trans-Mississippi  section,  especially  calls  the  attention  of  the  western 
commercial  organizations  to  this  action  with  the  request  that  delegates  be 
appointed  with  special  reference  to  this  matter. 

FREE    FORUM    FOR   THE    WEST. 

In  addition  to  the  above,  upon  which  recommendations  and  resolutions 
may  be  made,  any  delegate  may  submit  suggestions  germane  to  the  objects 
of  the  Congress.  It  is  the  desire  of  the  Executive  Committee  to  have  a 
free  discussion  of  all  matters  of  interest  to  the  people  of  the  Trans-Missis- 
sippi country. 


NO   POLITICAL   QUESTIONS   DISCUSSED. 

The  Executive  Committee,  however,  desires  it  to  be  understood  that  all 
questions  of  a  political  nature  are  excluded  from  the  discussions  of  the 
Congress. 

.1.  B.  CASE,  President, 
Abilene,  Kansas. 

THOMAS   F.    WALSH,   Chairman    Executive   Committee, 
Denver    (Wolhurst),  Colorado. 

ARTHUR  R.  BRIGGS,   Vice-Chairman  Executive  Committee, 
San  Francisco,  California. 

I).    R.    FRAXCIS,    Chairman   Advisory    Committee, 
St.   Louis,    .Missouri. 

A.  C.  TRUMBO,  Vice-Chairman  Advisory  Committee, 
Muskogee,   Oklahoma. 

FRED  W.  FLEMIXG,   Chairman  Congressional  Committee, 
Kansas  City,  Missouri. 

COL.   H.   D.   LOVE  LAND,   Treasurer, 
San  Francisco,  California. 

ARTHUR  F.  FRAXCIS,  Secretary  to  the  Congress, 
Cripple  Creek,  Colorado. 


PROCEEDINGS  OF  THE  NINETEENTH  ANNUAL  SESSION 

OF    THE 

TRANS -MISSISSIPPI    COMMERCIAL    CONGRESS 

HELD    IN 

DREAMLAND  PAVILION,  SAN  FRANCISCO,  CALIFORNIA 
OCTOBER  6,   7,  8,  9  and  10,   1908 


FIRST   SESSION. 
Tuesday,   October  6,  1908. 

The  opening  session  of  the  Nineteenth  Annual  Convention  of  the  Trans- 
Mississippi  Commercial  Congress  was  called  to  order  by  Honorable  Arthur 
R.  Briggs,  Vice-Chairman  of  the  Executive  Committee  of  the  Congress,  and 
Chairman  of  the  local  Executive  Committee,  in  Dreamland  Pavilion,  at 
San  Francisco,  California,  at  10  o'clock  a.  m.,  Tuesday,  October  6,  1908. 

The  following  is  a  full  text  of  the  proceedings: 

By   Chairman   Briggs: 

As  Chairman  of  the  local  committee  having  in  charge  matters  relating 
to  the  Congress,  I  am  privileged  to  call  this  assembly  to  order.  This  is  the 
Nineteenth  Annual  Congress  held  in  the  Trans-Mississippi  section,  and  while 
we  have  not  as  large  a  number  of  delegates  from  our  own  State  as  we  hoped 
to  have,  we  have  a  very  large  and  a  very  representative  number  from  the 
other  states.  In  explanation  1  am  going  to  say  that  there  seems  to  have 
been  some  misunderstanding  on  the  part  of  some  members  of  the  reception 
and  entertainment  committee,  so  that  an  excursion  on  the  bay  was  announced 
for  this  morning  at  10  o'clock,  which  was  not  to  have  been,  and  I  now  take 
occasion  to  say  that  the  excursion  announced  will  not  take  place  until 
Thursday  morning,  probably  beginning  at  9  o'clock;  however,  the  announce- 
ment of  the  time  will  be  made  through   the  public  press  later  on. 

It  has  been  arranged  by  the  executive  officers  of  the  Congress  that 
when  we  adjourn  on  Wednesday  evening  we  shall  adjourn  until  half  past 
1  or  2  o'clock  Thursday  afternoon.  This  will  give  time  for  the  enter- 
tainment and  the  excursion  as  has  already  been  announced.  Another  reason 
why  there  are  some  vacant  seats  is  because  of  the  presentation  of  the 
silver  service,  which  occurs  today  on  the  cruiser  "Colorado."  The  Colorado 
delegation,  upwards  of  one  hundred,  is  necessarily  detained  for  that  purpose, 
and  they  are  there  now.  This  afternoon  we  hope  to  have  the  pleasure  of 
their  presence. 

I  now  have  the  pleasure  of  asking  Rabbi  Nieto  to  deliver  the  invocation. 
Ladies   and  gentlemen:    Rabbi   Jacob   Nieto. 

INVOCATION. 
By  Rabbi  Jacob   Nieto: 

Oh,  Lord  God,  Thou  who  art  the  Guider  of  the  destinies  of  men  and  nations, 
we  humbly  invoke  Thy  blessing  at  this  time.  Deign  to  cause  Thy  spirit  to 
rest  upon  this  Congress;  that  they  may  understand  that  not  in  rivalry  of 
states  or  of  cities  can  the  ultimate  success  of  our  Nation  be  guaranteed;  but 
on  the  contrary  in  the  putting  aside  of  all  feelings  of  antagonism;  in  coming 
together  as  one  people,  with   one  intent,  they  can  alone  do   what  is  necessary 


12  REPORT    OF    PROCEEDINGS 

to  foster  what  is  best  in  our  people.  Let  them  understand,  these  who  are 
business  men,  that  the  work  they  are  about  to  engage  in  is  philanthropic, 
moral  and  religious;  that  in  creating  new  industries  for  our  people,  and 
giving  impetus  to  those  that  are  now  among  us  they  are  lessening  crime,  and 
obviating  possible  want  and  distress,  and  creating  a  moral  atmosphere 
among  the  people  of  this  great  country.  Imbue  them  with  Thy  spirit  that 
they  understand  that  we  stand  not  only  as  United  States  in  name,  ready  to 
combat  any  nation  that  may  affront  us,  but  we  stand  as  a  united  people, 
bent  upon  doing  those  things  which  will  increase  the  usefulness  of  Thy  serv- 
ants in  this,  the  United  States.  Bless  them  with  Thy  wisdom;  guide  them 
throughout  all  their  deliberations;  and  let  them  be  forever  mindful  of  the  one 
duty  they  are  to  perform,  that  of  increasing  the  moral  tone  of  our  people  and 
leading  them  by  useful  work  and  by  useful  means  to  become  still  more  neces- 
sary to  the  peace  and  welfare  of  the  world.  Let  them  also  be  impressed  with 
the  fact  that  the  message  of  freedom  already  announced  to  the  entire  world 
should  be  carried  still  further  and  further  through  the  means  of  commerce, 
which  is  also  a  mighty  moral  instrument  designed  by  God  for  the  uplifting 
of    man. 

Bless  them  with  Thy  wisdom;  bless  the  people  of  this  State  and  this 
city;  and  let  those  delegates  who  have  come  from  afar,  be  imbued  with  the 
example  of  San  Francisco,  arising  from  its  ruins,  strenuous  in  its  attempt 
to  build  itself  again,  morally  and  structurally.  And  may  all  Thy  servants 
ever  do  that  which  will  glorify  Thy  name  and  exalt  this  great  Nation.  Amen. 
Amen. 

By  Chairman   Briggs: 

Again  it  falls  to  me  to  express  the  regret  on  the  part  of  the  chairman 
of  our  executive  committee,  Mr.  Walsh,  that  he  cannot  be  with  us  this  morn- 
ing. He  has  asked  me,  therefore,  to  represent  him,  because  he,  necessarily, 
is  called  to  participate  in  the  presentation  of  the  silver  service  by  the  Colo- 
rado delegation  on  the  cruiser  "Colorado." 

Knowing  as  I  do  the  capacity  of  our  distinguished  chairman,  I  feel  that 
a  duty  has  been  laid  upon  me  that  I  can  but  poorly  fill.  We  had  hoped  that 
Mr.  Walsh  would  review  the  work  that  has  been  done  by  the  Trans-Missis- 
sippi Commercial  Congress,  that  he  would  outline  what  its  future  might  be 
and  what  it  is  destined  to  be;  and  in  other  words,  that  he  might  present  to 
this  assemblage  thoughts  that  could  be  taken  away  when  we  have  adjourned 
finally,  to  the  benefit  of  the  districts  which  we  represent  and  to  the  benefit 
of   the   whole   Trans-Mississippi    section. 

This  Trans-Mississippi  Commercial  Congress  means  vastly  more  than 
many  have  any  idea,  who  simply  know  it  by  name.  It  touches  every  im- 
portant question  relating  to  the  development  and  progress  of  the  Trans- 
Mississippi  country.  It  is  represented  by  men  of  affairs,  unselfish  in  every 
way,  who  come  together  for  the  purpose  of  discussing  in  a  patriotic,  philan- 
thropic and  public  manner  these  great  questions  which  affect  the  welfare  of 
the  State  and  of  the  Nation.  It  is  well  known  by  those  who  have  followed  the 
work  of  the  Trans-Mississippi  Commercial  Congress  that  the  Congress  of 
the  United  States  takes  heed  of  much  of  the  work  that  is  done  here,  and 
encourages  the  organization.  It  is  therefore  important  that  whatever  is  done 
shall  be  done  deliberately  and  carefully,  and  that  when  we  have  finally  fin- 
ished our  work,  the  resolutions  which  we  have  adopted  should  be  such  as  will 
express  the  sentiment,  no!  only  of  this  Congress,  but  of  the  states  and 
districts  which  we  represent.  I  feel  sure  that  every  delegate  to  this  Con- 
gress appreciates  the  dignity  of  the  position  which  has  been  given  him  by  the 
appointment  and  the  responsibility  which  is  placed  upon  him:  and  I  feel 
also  sure  that  the  people  of  San  Francisco  and  of  California  will  understand 
what  it.  means  to  have  this  assemblage  here. 

A  word  now  with  reference  to  ourselves:  1  take  it  that  very  few  people 
in  this  country,  even  among  those  well  informed,  have  much  knowledge  of  the 
present  condition  and  the  future  prospect  of  San  Francisco.  It  has  been 
thought  far  and  wide  that  San  Francisco  had  received  a  blow  from  which 
it  would  take  many,  many  years  to  recover.  But  we  hope  before  the  delegates 
from  the  distant  states  and  territories  have  finished  here,  to  be  able  to  show 


MAYOR    K.   It.  T\W,(HI,   Sim   Frnn<-lMc<i. 


TRANS-MISSISSIPPI    COMMERCIAL    CONGRESS  13 

you  that  San  Francisco  is  still  a  great  city,  has  great  possibilities,  and  is  on 
the  map,  as  she  was  before  the  catastrophe.     (Applause.) 

The  catastrophe  which  came  to  us  enabled  San  Francisco  to  modernize 
the  city  as  it  would  not  have  been  modernized  perhaps  in  a  half  century, 
without  that  catastrophe.  Our  buildings  that  are  being  constructed,  and  those 
that  have  been  constructed,  in  place  of  those  which  were  destroyed,  are 
modern  structures,  a  credit  not  only  to  this  city,  but  they  would  be  a  credit 
to  any  city  in  the  land.  We  therefore  say  that  while  we  appreciate  the 
friendly  sentiment  that  was  expressed  throughout  the  land  when  the 
catastrophe  came  to  us,  and  we  appreciate  the  feeling  of  sympathy  which 
is  still  being  extended  to  us,  we  have  the  courage  and  the  confidence  and  the 
hope  that  this  city  and  this  State  will  still  go  on  as  it  was  going  on,  pro- 
pelled by  those  who  are  behind  us.  This  is  not  an  accident;  San  Francisco 
is  no  accident  at  all;  it  is  the  expression  of  the  necessity  of  the  times,  and 
born  of  that  necessity  it  is  the  metropolis  of  the  Pacific  Coast. 

Therefore,  I  say,  we  are  glad  to  have  you  here;  we  are  glad  to  have  you 
take  back  with  you  the  knowledge  of  what  our  city  is  today,  and  the  knowl- 
edge of  what  we  are  trying  to  make  it  in  the  future. 

I  have  now  the  honor,  the  very  great  honor,  and  the  privilege  of  present- 
ing to  you  the  Honorable  Edward  R.  Taylor,  the  Mayor  of  our  city,  who  will 
welcome  this  Congress  to  San  Francisco  on  behalf  of  this  municipality. 
"  (Applause.) 

ADDRESS    BY    THE     MAYOR. 

By  Honorable   Edward  R.   Taylor  of  San  Francisco: 

Mr.  President  and  Members  of  the  Trans-Mississippi  Commercial  Congress: 
As  the  head  of  the  municipal  government  of  San  Francisco  it  warms  my 
heart  to  greet  you.  You  are  met  in  the  19th  Annual  Session  of  your  Congress 
under  the  happiest  auspices;  you  are  assembled  in  the  westernmost  city 
of  your  country — a  city  whose  citizens  have  demonstrated  anew,  in  the  most 
striking  manner,  the  unconquerable  spirit  of  the  American  people  no  matter 
how  depressing  the  situation:  a  city  that  proudly  overlooks  Balboa's  vast, 
unbounded  sea,  on  which  •will  ultimately  float  the  greatest  commerce  the 
world  has  ever  seen  on  any  ocean;  a  city  whose  future  must,  by  reason  of 
her  situation,  be  of  the  greatest  possible  interest  to  every  citizen  of  the 
United  States;  a  city  whose  hopes  and  wishes  are  those  of  peace,  but  who  is 
bound  to  believe,  in  these  days  of  universal  naval  activity,  that  the  ends 
of  peace  are  wrapped  up  in  the  means  of  war  (applause) ;  a  city  whose  heart 
has  ever  been  warm  to  her  visitor,  and  who  is  especially  warm  at  this  moment 
to  you,  because  your  mission  is  not  only  one  of  peace,  but  one  that  harbors 
the  worthiest  and  most  needed  efforts  of  man.  You  are,  indeed,  welcome. 
Make  the  city  your  own.  Receive  here  not  only  the  stimulation  of  her  air,  but 
that  friendly  feeling  which  ought  to  bind  us  together  as  brothers. 

You  are  commercially  representative  of  nineteen  states  and  three  terri- 
tories, having  upwards  of  30,000,000  people  in  their  bounds — an  immense 
territory  most  of  which  was  virtually  unknown  seventy-five  years  ago,  but 
which  now  is  speeding  toward  a  great  destiny  beyond  the  dreams  of  even 
the  most  imaginative.  Here  great  rivers  flow;  here  the  vast  mountain 
ranges  of  North  America  lift  their  peaks  to  the  regions  of  perpetual  snow; 
here  illimitable  plains  bare  their  breasts  to  the  nourishing  sun;  here  count- 
less valleys  annually  give  birth  to  the  fruitage  brought  forth  through  the 
labors  of  men;  here  eager  populations  swarm  in  great  cities;  and  here  romance 
has  played  her  every  part  in  the  gamut  of  life.  Here,  too,  lie  immense  spaces 
of  infertile,  arid  lands,  whose  proper  irrigation  furnishes  one  of  the  greatest 
problems  you  will  have  to  solve.  So  vast  have  been  and  so  vast  still  are, 
the  resources  of  our  country,  East  as  well  as  West,  that  we  have  made  the 
vital  mistake  of  treating  them  as  boundless  and  wasting  them  very  much 
as  the  spendthrift  heir  wastes  the  inheritance  of  his  ancestors.  We  have 
not  only  turned  over  what  belonged  to  the  whole  people  to  a  few,  but  we 
have  permitted  that  few  to  pursue  a  course  of  waste  and  destruction  —  so 
wasteful,  indeed,  in  the  case  of  our  precious  forests,  that  we  have  been  com- 
pelled to  pause  almost  aghast  at  what  has  taken  place.  The  great  questions 
to  which  you  are  to  address  yourselves  are  based  fundamentally  on  the  con- 
servation of  our  natural  resources.  The  saving  of  these  and  the  use  of  them 
to  their  utmost,  consistently  with  their  conservation,  are  fundamental  prin- 
ciples from  which  we  should  never  depart;  and  I  am  pleased  to  note  that 
especial  attention  is  drawn  to  this  in  your  circular  of  the  present  year. 
Nature,  however,  must  be  helped  out.     Her  processes  are  frequently  imperfect. 


14  REPORT    OF    PROCEEDINGS 

She  gives  her  mairrial  with  an  overabundant  hand,  but  it  lies  with  man  to 
use  that  material  in  a  proper  and  husbandlike  way,  and  never  to  waste  it; 
for  when  once  destroyed  it  is  gone  forever,  it  is  like  the  dame  of  Life 
apostrophized   by   Othello   as   he   is  aboul    t"   slay    Desdemona: 

"Put   out  the  light,  and  then — Put   <>nt    the   light? 

If  I  quench  thee,   thou   darning  minister, 

I   can  again   thy  former  light   restore, 

Should   l   repent   me:     but  once  put  out  thy  light, 

Thou  cunning'st   pattern  of  excelling  nature, 

1   know   net   where  is   the  Promethean   heat 

That  ran  thy  light  relume." 

Ah.  no  iino.  indeed,  can  know  where  or  how  a  resource  of  nature  once  de- 
stroyed  can  ever  in-  replaced. 

Nowhere  do  we  better  behold  the  Imperfect  processes  of  nature  than 
in  California,  as  exemplified   in   our  two  great   rivers,   tin-  Sacramento  and  tin- 

Joaquin.  'Phi'  rain  falls  in  unusual  quantity,  the  mountain  snows  un- 
timely melt,  ami  thereupon  follows  the  result  of  flooded  farms  ami  widespread 
destruction.  <  in  the  other  hand,  the  winter  rains  fail  to  fall  ami  thereupon 
follows  all  th.'  distresses  of  desolating  drouth.  Here  is  the  case  of  cases  for 
man  to  help  out  such  a  grievous  situation;  to  use  the  materials  at  his  hand 
in  such  wis,-  as  i"  bring  blessing  ami  harmony  where  before  wen  curse  ami 
disharmony.  Tin-  problem  is  simple  to  state  ami  perhaps  not  difficult  to  solve. 
ami.  indeed,  scientific  men  have  theoretically  worked  it  out.  What  is  needed 
are  concerted  effort  and  tin-  bounteous  aid  of  tin-  Federal  Government  which 
should  not  longer  be  withheld.  The  problem  is  the  treatment  of  the  rivers 
so  thai  tie-  storm  waters,  instead  of  being  a  destructive  agency,  shall  be 
diverted  to  tin-  purpose  of  irrigation  when  drouth  shall  demand  it.  In  such 
case  v.'u  would  have  a  perfect  conservation  of  the  greatest  resource  that 
Nature  has  in-stowed  upon  man.  Furthermore,  you  would  put  the  two  greatest 
valleys  of  tin-  State  in  the  way  of  supporting  millions  of  human  beings,  and 
of  adding   untold   millions   to   the   wealth   of   the   world. 

It    has   now.    for   many   years,    been    tin-   conceded   constitutional    policy    oi 

rress  to  aid  in  the  internal  improvements  of  the  states;  ami  nowhere 
has  the  power  been  better  or  more  frequently  exerted  than  in  the  improve- 
ment of  waterways.  ('an  anyone  in-  found  bold  enough  to  say  that  two 
SUCh     streams     as     the     Sa  era  men  t  o     ami     the     San     Joaquin     should     not     receive 

greatest  attention  at  the  hands  of  tin-  Government?  This  would  be  so. 
if  there  were  no  other  considerations  than  those  mentioned.  Hut  look  at  this 
other  picture:  in  the  great  deltas  of  the  Sacramento  and  San  Joaquin  lie 
many  islands,  which  passed  to  tin-  state  from  the  United  States  under  the 
trust  of  reclamation,  they  being  so  swampy  by  reason  of  overflows  as  to  be 
Insusceptible  of  cultivation.  These  pass.d  from  tin-  State  to  those  who  have 
reclaimed  a  number  of  them  by  levees  costing  great  sums  of  money,  ami  on 
the   lands   thus   reclaimed   have  raised   abundant   emps.     .Now   it    has   happened 

(inn-  and  time  again  that  these  valuable  lands  thus  reclaimed  and  with  grow- 
ing   crops    upon     them     have    been     inundated     by     the    flood     waters    of    the    rivers. 

their    crops    lost     and     their    improvements    and     their    costly     levees    greatly 

Lged.      The    losses    thus    suffered,    SO    enormous    in    extent,    would    either    not 

have     occurred     or     have     been     very     materially     minimized     had     the     channels 

of  the   rivers   been   deepened   as   thej    should   have   been,  ami  as   thej    must    be. 

if  similar  losses  are  not  to  incur.  Thousands  of  acres  of  these  island  lands 
aw  ,it  reclamation  and  great  populations  upon  them,  but  such  are  not  likelj 
t,,  come  in  the  absence  of  Federal  aid  to  tin-  end  of  rectifying  ami  deepening 
the  river  channels.  Nothing  is  of  more  importance  than  this  so  far  as  our 
own  state  is  concerned;  for  our  principal  waterways  not  only  carry  millions 
of  tonnage,  but  they  serve  to  keep  down,  as  they  do  everywhere,  excessive 
railroad    rates.       (Applause.)  indeed,    we    have    Mr.     Prentiss    Maslin,    the 

Ian  of  the  River  Improvement  and  Drainage  of  California,  affirming 
that;  "Tiie  products  of  the  counties  within  the  -/.'me  of  the  influence  of  the 
Sacramento  ami  San  Joaquin  Rivers  represent  a  total  annual  valuation  of 
over  $200,000,000,  and  the  products  >'{  the  counties  within  the  /.one  of  the 
Napa  ami  Petaluma  Rivers  represent  a  total  annual  valuation  of  J27, 000,000." 
And  the  tonnage  of  these  rivers,  as  In-  states,  was  in  i:nn;  mi  less  than 
1,68  "is. 

immediately    connected    With    this    subject,    and    as    a    necessary    part    of    it. 
is   tin-   preservation   of  our   forests,    in    fact,   conservation   of   waters  and    forest 
preservation    are    correlates.      Destroj     the    trees    of    the    mountains    and    you 
destroy    the    plains   ami    the    valleys.       Ii     Is    thej     which    perform    the    must    neces 
sary    offices    Of    anj     Other    one     thing     which    abounds    in    animate    nature.       The 

is  not  ab. ne  that  magnificent  creature  which  at  its  greatest  lifts  its 
fronded  head  in  towering  grandeur  far  above  tin-  earth,  its  mighty  arms 
wrestling  with  all  the  storms  that  blow,  ami  bearing  within  its  enormous 
bulk    tin-    sign    ami    s.al    of    long    gone    centuries       a    wonder-breathing    thing 

that  sets  athrlll  tin-  heart  of  the  poet;  but  it  stands  endowed  with  such 
infinitude    "f   useful    qualities,    that    beautj    ami    utility    are    united    in    it    as   in 


.1.    \.   (.1 1,I,KTT.    Siicriuiiento. 
Governor  of  Cjilifornin. 


TRANS-MISSISSIPPI    COMMERCIAL    CONGRESS  15 

nothing  else  that  is  known  to  man.  The  matter  is  so  scientifically  and  at 
the  same  time  so  poetically  stated  by  Madame  Michelet  that  I  beg  the  privilege 
of  quoting  her  language,  her  French  being  given  in  the  English  of  a  trans- 
lator who  has  worthily  turned  it  from  the  one  tongue  into  the  other: 

"Oh,  who  will  really  undertake  the  defense  of  the  trees  and  rescue  them 
from  a  general  and  senseless  destruction  ?  Who  will  eloquently  set  forth 
their  manifold  mission,  and  their  active  and  incessant  assistance  in  the 
regulation  of  the  laws  which  rule  our  globe  ?  Without  them,  it  seems  de- 
livered over  to  the  blind  destiny  which  will  involve  it  again  in  chaos  !  The 
motive  powers  and  purifactors  of  the  atmosphere  through  the  respiration  of 
their  foliage;  avaricious  collectors,  to  the  advantage  of  future  ages,  of  the 
solar  heat,  it  is  they,  too.  which  arrest  the  progress  of  the  sea-born  clouds, 
and  compel  them  to  refresh  the  earth;  it  is  they  which  pacify  the  storm,  and 
avert  its  most  disastrous  consequences.  In  the  low-lying  plains,  which  had 
no  outlet  for  their  waters,  the  trees,  long  before  the  advent  of  man,  drained 
the  soil  by  their  roots,  forcing  the  stagnant  waters  to  descend,  and  construct 
at  a  lower  depth  their  useful  reservoirs.  And  now,  on  the  abrupt  declivities 
they  consolidate  the  crumbling  soil,  check  and  break  in  the  torrent,  control 
the  melting  snows,  and  preserve  to  the  meadows  the  fertile  humidity  which 
in  due   time  will   overspread  them  with   a  sea  of  flowers." 

Yet,  in  the  face  of  all  this,  what  wanton,  what  criminal  destruction  have 
we  witnessed  of  the  trees  of  the  forest  !  The  lands  on  which  the  trees  were 
standing  have  been  sold  outright  to  private  parties,  and  they,  without  super- 
vision of  any  kind,  have  worked  their  indiscriminate  will  upon  the  forest, 
slaying,  mutilating  and  wasting,  until  what  was  before  an  indescribable 
beauty  and  an  indispensable  utility  became  a  desolation  revolting  and  aw-ful. 
That  the  trees  are  made  for  man,  and  not  man  for  the  trees;  and  that  the 
paramount  use  of  the  trees  must  be  that  which  best  serves  the  practical 
necessities  of  man,  all  must  concede,  even  the  most  visionary  of  sentiment- 
alists; but  the  harrowing  pity  of  it  is  that,  while  all  of  these  necessities  can 
be  met  and  the  forest  yet  remain,  the  destruction  still  goes  on.  What  is 
needed  is  scientific  and  proper  treatment  very  like  that  now  prevailing  in 
the  matter  of  sheep  and  cattle  grazing  on  the  Government  reservations. 
Formerly  to  let  sheep  graze  at  will  upon  certain  lands  was  to  invite  destruc- 
tion of  all  small  growth  even  to  the  roots,  and  so  with  cattle  to  a  limited 
extent.  Now,  the  matter  is  so  arranged  that  the  ground  is  never  overgrazed, 
and  in  some  cases  not  grazed  at  all.  The  people's  land  is  in  no  wise  injured 
wrhile  serving  as  a  great  benefit  to  the  owners  of  sheep  and  cattle.  The 
irremediable  mistake  was  made  in  selling  forest  lands  outright  to  those  who 
could  do  as  they  pleased  with  them,  and  who  only  cared  to  turn  the  trees 
into  money  as  soon  as  possible.  None  too  soon  did  the  Federal  authorities 
enter  upon  the  policy  of  reserving  large  mountain  spaces  where  the  spoiler 
may  never  raise  his  relentless,  indiscriminating  hand.  Great  forests  have 
already  been  destroyed,  and  within  recent  years,  in  the  vast  regions  you 
represent;  and  others  will  in  like  manner  be  destroyed,  for  man  can  do  what 
he  likes  with  his  own;  but  many  forests  yet  remain,  and  pray  God  a  wiser 
policy  may  prevail  as  to  them  —  a  policy  that  embraces  scientific  forestry. 
(Applause.) 

You  have  many  great  questions  to  discuss  other  than  those  I  have  ven- 
tured to  advert  to,  and  I  cannot  but  believe  that  your  discussions  and  delibera- 
tions will  redound  to  the  benefit  of  each  one  of  you  and  to  that  of  the  whole 
country.  Men  beat  out  things  in  discussion  as  they  cannot  do  in  any  other 
way.  But  I  must  not  detain  you  longer.  Again  I  greet  you,  and  in  con- 
clusion assure  you  that  San  Francisco  gives  you  no  reluctant,  no  niggardly 
welcome,  but  a  welcome  that  wells  fresh  from  her  heart  and  inscribes  your 
presence  here  as  a  proud  eyent  in  her  history.     (Continued  applause.) 

By  Chairman  Briggs: 

In  addition  to  the  welcome  to  the  city  which  his  Honor,  the  Mayor,  has 
given,  we  also  desire  to  give  a  welcome  from  the  State  at  large,  because,  in 
our  generosity,  if  we  give  you  the  city  we  may  just  as  well  give  you  the 
State,  and  we  think  that  with  the  generous  nature  of  our  Governor,  of  whom 
we  are  all  so  fond,  he  will  probably  extend  to  you  the  State  as  a  whole. 
I  have  the  honor  to  present  Governor  James  N.  Gillett,  Governor  of  Cali- 
fornia.     (Applause.) 

ADDRESS     BY     THE     GOVERNOR. 
By    Hon.    J.    N.    Gillett: 

Mr.  Chairman,  delegates  of  the  Trans-Mississippi  Commercial  Congress, 
and  ladies  and  gentlemen:  To  you,  composing  the  Congress,  the  state  of 
California,  and  we,  the  people  of  California,  extend  a  most  cordial  and  hearty 
welcome  and  express  our  sincere  appreciation  of  your  presence  with  us  on 
this    occasion. 


16  REPORT    OF    PROCEEDINGS 

The  Trans-Mississippi  Commercial  Congress  was  organized  for  the  purpose 
of  developing  the  resources  and  advancing  the  interests  of  the  great  West, 
a  rich  and  mighty  country,  an  empire  in  extent,  that  lies  between  the  Father 
of  Rivers  and  the  Monarch  of  Oceans,  a  greal  and  most  valuable  part  of 
which   rests    on    the    fair   Pacific   slope. 

You  are  interested  in  questions  of  great  moment  that  affect  not  only 
the  people  of  the  West,  but  the  people  of  this  great  Nation  of  ours.  You 
are  interested  in  questions  of  irrigation,  in  questions  affecting  the  reclama- 
tion of  arid  lands,  in  the  improvement  of  our  water  ways,  in  the  conserva- 
tion of  our  waters  and  in  the  preservation  of  our  forests.  You  are  interested 
in  the  cultivation  of  our  valleys,  in  the  encouragement  of  manufacturing,  and 
in  t lie  extending  of  our  markets  — not  only  to  our  sister  states  in  the  east, 
but  to  foreign  countries  beyond  the  ocean.  It  is  your  aim  that  these  wonder- 
ful natural  resources  which  lie  within  what  we  term  the  Great  West  shall  be 
properly  developed,  shall  be  properly  known,  and  inasmuch  as  California  and 
the  Pacific  slope  contain  so  many  of  these  natural  resurces,  it  is  exceed- 
ingly pleasant  on  the  part  of  our  people  and  on  the  part  of  the  whole  Western 
slope"'  that  you  are  with  us  today.  And  we  want  to  say  to  you  and  express  to 
you  our  feeling  when  we  say  that  you  are  welcome  to  our  State,  you  are 
welcome  to  participate  in  the  magnificent  climate  which  is  ours,  you  are 
welcome  to  go  over  and  through  our  mountains  and  valleys,  and  whatever 
you  may  find  of  interest;  whatever  may  please  you,  is  yours  —  for  today 
and  for  tomorrow,  but  not  for  all  time  to  come  because  we  propose  to  keep  it 
for  ourselves,  as  much  of  it  at  least  as  we  can.      (Applause.) 

We  have  great  problems  in  our  State  the  same  as  you  have  in  your  states. 
Our  great  problem  is  the  proper  irrigation  and  reclamation  of  our  most 
fertile  lands,  the  conservation  of  our  waters,  the  protection  of  the  forests  on 
our  mountains,  the  building  up  of  our  cities,  the  construction  of  good  high- 
ways and  roads,  and  the  improvement  of  our  waterways.  These  are  ques- 
tions of  great  moment  to  us,  and  they  are  no  doubt  questions  of  great  moment 
to    you. 

We  know  that  San  Francisco,  over  which  the  Mayor  presides,  and  which 
has  extended  to  you  so  cordial  a  welcome,  will  be  the  great  metropolis  of 
this  Pacific  Ocean,  we  know  that  it  has  the  Golden  Gate,  and  through 
that  in  the  future  must  pass  the  commerce  thai  will  build  up  the  Pacific 
Ocean  and  the  countries  bordering  upon  it;  and  the  citizens  of  our  State  are 
deeply  interested  in  the  doubling  of  this  commerce.  They  are  sensible  of 
the  great  responsibility  that  rests  upon  them,  and  they  are  doing  their 
work  with  a  consciousness  and  with  a  feeling  that  they  are  going  to  succeed. 
We  know  that  the  great  city  of  San  Francisco,  in  which  we  are  now  pleased 
and  delighted  to  receive  you,  will  be  the  great  metropolis  of  the  entire  Pacific 
slope,  that  here  will  be  centered  trades,  commerce,  and  all  the  active  indus- 
tries. We  have  faith  in  its  future,  a  faith  that  cannot  be  shaken,  and  today 
our  citizens  with  strong  minds  and  great  hearts  are  rescuing  it  from  the 
ruin  caused  by  fire  and  earthquake.  And  we  propose  to  make  it  the  fairest 
city  overlooking  the  great  Pacific  Ocean,  no  matter  in  what  country  or  in 
what  time  —  a  city  that  shall  be  thoroughly  American,  a  Western  city,  full 
of  life  and  energy,  a  city  that  will  be  an  honor  to  our  country  and  which 
will  glorify  the  ambition,  the  courage,  the  strength  and  the  civic  pride  of 
Californians  (Applause)  — a  city  which  not  only  will  be  representative  of 
the  great  State  in  which  it  rests  before  the  great  Pacific  slope,  a  country 
that  holds  not  two  like  it  from  the  northern  boundary  of  Mexico  to  the  storm- 
beaten  and  frozen  coasts  of  the  North;  because  this  country  on  this  Ocean 
runs  from  Mexico  to  the  Arctic  Ocean.  There  is  no  Oregon  or  Washington 
or  California  in  the  developing  of  our  resources  in  the  great  West,  which 
our  people  have  undertaken  to  develop;  we  shall  all  work  together  with  one 
purpose  in  mind.  And  while  you  are  here  in  San  Francisco  receiving  the 
hospitality  of  this  city,  having  in  mind  the  greal  problems  which  you  all 
have,  we  want  you  to  understand  thai  this  is  a  Congress  convening  in  the 
greal  West,  on  the  Pacific  Ocean,  having  an  interest  in  everything  thai  goes 
to  the  benefit  and  to  the  advantage  of  the  great  country  lying  along  the 
Pacific  Ocean. 

In  conclusion,  lei  me  again,  as  Governor  of  ihis  magnificent  common- 
wealth, extend  to  you  a  most  cordial  and  hearty  welcome.  We  are  pleased 
that  you  are  with  us.  We  hope  your  stay  will  be  pleasant  here.  We  know 
your  work  will  have  good  results.  And  when  we  part,  we  hope  you  will  take 
back  with  you  to  your  homes  the  righl  kind  of  spirit,  which  we  believe  you 
have,  and  that  you  will  remember  that  the  people  of  California  have  been 
deeply  pleased  to  have  you   with   us  on   this  occasion.     (Applause.) 

By  Chairman  Briggs: 

When  Colonel  Loveland  and  myself  wenl  to  Muskogee  a  year  ago  to 
invite  the  Trans-Mississippi  Commercial  Congress  to  come  to  San  Fran- 
cisco this  year  we  looked  about  to  see  who   there   was  in   this  community 


•    : 


GEO.    <•    PERKINS,    ^:m    lr.Muis.o. 
I  ii i < •-«!   State*    Senator. 


TRANS-MISSISSIPPI    COMMERCIAL    CONGRESS  17 

who  would  stand  behind  us  in  any  promises  we  might  make.  The  com- 
mercial interests  in  this  city  immediately  said  to  us,  make  the  invitation 
Californian,  and  San  Francisco  stands  ready  to  fill  any  promises  you  may 
make.  The  Chamber  of  Commerce,  which  is  the  parent  commercial  body 
in  this  city,  made  a  guarantee  of  the  funds  sufficient  to  carry  on  the  work 
of  this  Congress  and  to  entertain  it  while  it  was  here.  It  therefore  gives 
the  local  committee  in  charge  very  great  gratification  to  be  able  today  to 
have  a  welcome  extended  by  the  president  of  that  organization,  the  president 
of  the  Chamber  of  Commerce,  who  is  one  of  the  most  useful,  energetic  and 
forceful  men  in  this  city.  He  is  with  us  today  and  I  have  the  pleasure  of 
presenting  him  to  you:  Mr.  C.  C.  Moore,  the  president  of  our  Chamber  of 
Commerce.     (Applause.) 

ADDRESS  BY  MR.  C.  C.  MOORE,  PRESIDENT  CHAMBER  OF  COMMERCE. 
By  Mr.  C.  C.  Moore: 

Mr.  Chairman,  fellow  delegates,  ladies  and  gentlemen:  After  the  kind 
remarks  of  the  chairman,  it  might  be  the  proper  thing  for  me  now  to  hand 
him  something. 

We  are  glad  to  see  you  here.  We  want  to  thank  you  for  coming.  We 
congratulate  ourselves  that  you  are  here.  It  is  unnecessary  for  me  to  add 
anything  to  the  welcome  of  the  Mayor  or  Governor,  except  to  assure  you  that 
the  commercial  bodies  join  most  heartily  in  all  the  sentiments  they  have 
expressed.  We  want  to  say  we  are  glad  you  are  here  so  as  to  be  able  to 
show  you  what  we  have  done.  All  men  like  to  have  the  notice  of  their  fellaws 
and  if  deserved,  to  receive  words  of  praise,  consequently  we  assure  you  we  will 
feel  amply  repaid  if,  after  you  have  seen  what  we  have  done  and  tried  to  rise 
through,  it  meets  with  your  approval,  if  on  your  way,  either  by  word  of  mouth 
or  letter,  you  would  let  the  truth  be  known,  that  San  Francisco  is  again  its 
own  self,  every  San  Franciscan  would  appreciate  it.  What  we  want  is  not 
flowers,  but  facts.  We  feel  that  if  those  who  believe  the  statements  about 
what  San  Francisco  has  done  are  altogether  wrong,  let  them  look  about.  If 
they  think  it  impossible  for  the  city  to  accomplish  so  much  in  such  a  short 
space  of  time,  let  them  ride  over  the  city.  Then  if  you  are  pleased  with 
what  you  see  and  will  give  expression  to  your  honest  convictions,  we  will 
be   delighted. 

I  want  to  say  further  in  line  •with  what  Mr.  Briggs  has  said  that  the 
entertainment  committee  is  formed  of  the  best  we  have.  The  members  are 
young;  they  are  active;  and  they  have  the  money,  now.  If  any  man  visiting 
here  with  his  family  and  friends  fails  to  gives  his  endorsement  to  that  pre- 
diction of  hospitality,  which  all  of  us  here  treasure  so  highly,  we  shall  feel 
that  you  are  not  giving  our  entertainment  committee  a  fair  chance.  In  their 
behalf  we  hope  that  you  will  take  advantage  of  every  advertised  feature 
and  function;  and  we  hope  you  will  place  yourself  where  you  can  come  in 
contact  with  our  committee,  so  that  we  may  preserve  the  fair  fame  of  San 
Francisco  for  entertainment  and   hospitality.     I   thank   you.      (Applause.) 

By  Chairman  Briggs: 

I  shall  present  the  next  speaker  very  reluctantly.  During  the  past 
twenty-four  hours  so  many  compliments  have  been  paid  him,  and  so  many 
seem  to  desire  his  presence  in  their  state  or  in  their  territory  that  I  almost 
fear  some  of  these  large  delegations  will  offer  such  inducements  to  him 
that  he  will  want  to  leave  the  State.  I  know  what  the  delegation  from 
Colorado  is;  fortunately  they  are  not  here  this  morning.  I  know  what 
the  Colorado  people  do,  particularly  those  in  Denver,  and  if  they  should  get 
their  eye  and  their  mind  and  their  thoughts  centered  on  our  distinguished 
Senior  Senator  in  this  State,  I  am  very  fearful  that  San  Francisco  and 
California  will  never  have  him  again.  It  is  therefore  with  reluctance,  as  I 
say,  that  I  present  to  you  this  morning  our  distinguished  Senior  United 
States  Senator,  Hon.  G.  C.  Perkins.     (Applause.) 

ADDRESS    BY    SENATOR   GEORGE    C.    PERKINS. 

By   Hon.    George    C.   Perkins: 

Gentlemen:  The  pleasant  privilege  has  been  assigned  me  to  extend  a  hearty 
greeting  and  cordial  welcome  to  the  members  of  this  Commercial  Congress 
on  behalf  of  the  delegation  in  the  Congress  of  the  United  States  from  Cali- 
fornia. It  is  exceedingly  gratifying  to  the  people  of  California,  and  especially 
of   the    great   commercial    metropolis    of   San    Francisco,    that   the    19th    session 


18  REPORT    OF    PROCEEDINGS 

of  the  Trans-Mississippi  Commercial  Congress  Is  to  be  held  In  this  city.  With 
great  pleasure  our  people  have  anticipated  your  coming  and  we  feel  confident 
your  session  will  !><■  productive  <>!'  much   benefll   to  our  common  country. 

California  is  our  home,  the  land  of  our  choice.  Ii  Is  thoroughly  cos- 
mopolitan in  character,  the  majority  of  our  population  coming  from  every 
state  and  territory,  and  with  representative  people  from  every  country  in 
the  world.  Many  who  came  here  to  see  the  wonders  of  this  western  land  have 
remained  to  assist  in  developing  its  varied  resources,  and  are  now  living  in 
the  enjoyment  of  the  results  of  their  Labors.  We  have  seen  our  great  cities 
and  towns  spring,  as  by  the  touch  of  the  magician's  rod,  from  canvas  tents 
and  adobe  cabins.  The  beasts  uf  the  foresl  and  the  wild  cattle  of  the  plain 
roamed  at  will  where  there  are  mow  thriving  towns,  cultivated  fields,  burdened 
orchards,  and  loaded  vineyards,  through  which  great  railroads  run  their 
trains  of  cars  bearing  the  products  of  the  land  to  remunerative  markets. 

Tin  se  spacious  hays,  rivers  and  harbors;  these  productive  hills,  dales  and 
valleys,  abounding  with  gardens  and  happy  homes,  these  majestic  mountains 
and  hills  veined  with  precious  ores  and  minerals,  make  this  Indeed  a  land 
of  promise.  Our  fertile  plains  and  fields,  with  varied  and  prolific  soil, 
produce  fruits  and  the  vine,  vegetables  and  cereals  in  such  abundance  that 
ship  and  car  supply  other  states  and  oilier  countries  with  luxuries  from 
our  surplus  stoic  We  point  with  commendable  pride  to  our  public 
schools,  universities,  colleges,  churches  and  benevolent  institutions  as  an  in- 
dex of  the   intelligence  and   philanthropy   of  our  people. 

It  is  within  the  recollection  of  many  of  us  when  a  visit  to  California 
meant  a  journey  of  several  months  across  the  plains,  around  Cape  Horn,  or  by 
the  sickly,  miasmatic  Isthmian  route.  Now  your  trip  has  required  but  a  few 
days  from  the  Atlantic  to  the  Pacific  with  all  the  luxuries  a  palace  car  can 
afford.  Yet  we  realize  that  the  delegates  to  this  Congress  have  come  at  a 
sacrifice  of  time  and  money  for  the  purpose  of  performing  a  great  public 
duty.  The  program  of  the  deliberations  of  this  Congress  embraces  the  dis- 
cussion of  many  subjects  of  vital  interest  and  importance  to  the  whole 
country.  It  is  public  sentiment,  it  is  public  opinion,  under  our  form  of  govern- 
ment, that  formulates  into  law  the  wishes  of  the  people.  And  I  know  of  no 
more  potent  Influence  for  wise  legislation  and  good  government  than  the 
recommendations  that  may  be  made  by  this  Commercial  Congress.  Its  dele- 
gates  number  some  or  the  most  learned,  thinking  and  progressive  men  of 
the  Nation,  with  representatives  from  the  leading  states  and  territories  of 
our  country,  than  whom  none  is  more  capable  of  an  Intelllgenl  discussion  of 
these  questions  which  are  fraught  with  such  great  Importance  to  the  advance- 
ment and  welfare  of  our  e, mimon  country.  The  people  have  confidence  that 
your  deliberations  will  result  in  ureal  public  benefit,  and  that  you  will  formu- 
late   into    resolutions,    or    otherwise,    recommendations    that    will    be      enacted 

into   laws   that   are   in    harmony    with    the   mission    of   your  good    Association. 

We  extend  to  you  a  heart;  welcome  to  our  State,  to  our  city,  and  to  our 
homes,  and  to  the  enjoyment  ,,f  our  delightful  and  varied  climate,  from  our 
southern  boundary,  where  grows  the  citrus  and  semi-tropical  fruit,  to  our 
northern  border,  where  Mount  Shasta  rears  its  majestic  dome  above  the  clouds 
clad   in   eternal    ermine,   reflects    his   sunshine    to    the    sea. 

We  feci  that  it  is  an  honor  to  have  you.  our  fellow  American  citizens 
of  one  country  and  one  government,  with  us  today.  We  know  that  with  us 
vim  feel  the  Inspiration  of  patriotism,  paramount  to  all  political  parties,  which 
unites  the  hearts  of  every  true  American  from  .Maim  to  Texas,  from  the 
Atlantic  to  the  Pacific.  We  are  proud,  as  you  are.  that  we  are  citizens  of  this 
great    Republic    with   the   stars   and   Btripes   float!  >ove   us,    the   emblem   of 

our  nationality. 

When   the   labors   of  your   Congress   have   endei  <    the    work   for   which 

you  assembled  Is  done,  and  you  return  to  youi  respective  homes,  may  you 
carry  with  .sou  pleasant  recollections  of  your  visit  to  the  Golden  stale  where 
the  Pacific  sin^s  on  the  western  ha  the  sunset  song  of  the  Nation''  (Pro- 
longed applause,  l 

By  Chairman  Briggs: 

It  was  said  some  years  ago  thai  the  face  of  the  Reverend  Robert  Collier 
was  as  good  as  a  benediction.  Now,  we  have  a  gentleman  among  us  whose 
face  is  as  good  as  thai  benediction,  and  l  want  everj  delegate  bere  to  see  it- 
and  not  only  that,  bul  we  want  iliat  you  bould  bear  what  be  lias  to  say  as  a. 
welcome  on  behalf  of  the  lower  bouse  of  Congress  from  the  delegation  of 
this  state.    I  have  the  pleasure  of  Introducing  Hon.  Julius  Kahn.    (Applause.) 

ADDRESS    Bl     n<»v  Jl  in  «•    K  \ii\.   m.   «-. 
By  lion.  Julius  Kahm 

Delegates    and    Members    of    the    Trans-Mlsslsslppl    c<  ,     Ladies    and 

Gentlemen:     TO     m«    alSO     has     been    allotted     the     pleasant     dul  |,.u, 


JULIUS    KAHN,    San    Francisco. 

Member    of    Congress. 


TRANS-MISSISSIPPI    COMMERCIAL    CONGRESS  19 

words  of  welcome  to  these  delegates.  I  am  afraid  that  the  previous  speakers 
have  left  but  little  for  me  to  add  by  way  of  welcome;  but  nevertheless  the 
people  of  San  Francisco  are  glad  on  this  occasion  to  extend  to  each  and  every 
one  of  you  a  most  hearty  and  most  cordial  welcome. 

Our  people  are  not  unmindful  of  the  great  work  that  these  Congresses 
have  performed  for  this  great  Trans-Mississippi  region:  and  when  we  turn 
back  the  tables  of  memory  we  realize  that  since  your  first  meeting  nineteen 
years  ago  history  has  been  made  in  this  Trans-Mississippi  region.  Millions  of 
acres  of  the  public  domain  have  been  opened  up  to  American  homesteads.  The 
great  work  of  National  Irrigation  has  been  inaugurated.  The  great  islands 
of  the  Pacific  now  recognize  the  sovereignty  of  these  United  States,  for 
American  hands  have  carried  far  out  across  the  Pacific  "Old  Glory"  to  the 
distant  Philippines:  and  Hawaii,  that  Paradise  of  the  Pacific,  has  been  annexed 
to  the  American  Union,  and  has  been  made  a  territory  of  this  Government. 
A  new  state  has  been  born,  and  since  the  4th  of  July  a  bright,  new,  resplendent 
star  has  been  placed  in  the  Union  of  azure.  But  we  must  not  rest  on  our 
laurels;  there  is  still  much  work  to  be  accomplished.  The  Panama  Canal  has 
almost  been  completed  since  your  first  meeting,  and  within  another  four  or 
five  years  the  Pacific  will  be  wedded  to  the  Atlantic,  and  that  great  public 
work  will  stand  as  another  monument  to  the  skill  and  the  ability  and  the 
energy  and   the   indomitable  courage   of   the  American   people.      (Applause.) 

We  have  just  begun  to  realize  the  great  necessity  for  the  conservation 
of  our  national  resources.  The  matter  of  the  upbuilding  and  the  rehabilitation 
of  the  American  Merchant  Marine  is  one  that  must  challenge  the  best  thought 
of    our    public    men.  (Applause.)         These    and    cognate    subjects    will     un- 

doubtedly be  discussed  by  this  Congress:  but  in  all  your  discussions,  in  all 
your  deliberations,  we  want  you  to  feel  that  we  are  glad  to  have  you  among 
us.  The  best  that  we  have  is  yours.  We  want  you  to  enjoy  our  glorious 
climate,  our  luscious  fruits,  our  fragrant  flowers.  We  wish  you  each  and  all 
a   most   hearty   and    most   cordial    welcome  —  yes.    thrice   welcome.      (Applause.) 

(During  a  short  intermission,  the  convention  was  entertained  by  a 
popular  air  from   the  band. ) 

By  Chairman  Briggs: 

We  seem  in  this  State  and  in  this  city  to  be  having  it  about  all  out- 
own  way.  and  it  occurred  to  me  as  not  quite  fair  not  to  give  some  of 
our  guests  an  opportunity  to  say  something  back  to  us  if  they  wanted  to. 
I  have  got  my  eye  on  Judge  Harris,  of  Galveston,  Texas,  and  as  his  fame 
has  preceded  him,  I  am  going  to  ask  the  judge  if  he  will  not  give  us  the 
benefit  of  a  response  of  two  or  three  or  five  minutes.  (Applause.)  I  have 
the  pleasure  of  presenting  Honorable  Ed    F.  Harris,  of  Texas. 

RESPOXSE  BY  HON.  ED  F.  HARRIS,  OF  GALVESTON. 
By  Mr.  Harris,  of  Texas: 

Ladies  and  gentlemen,  citizens  of  San  Francisco  and  California,  and  my 
fellow  delegates  to  the  Trans-Mississippi  Commercial  Congress:  It  was  but 
a  moment  ago  that  I  was  pursuing,  in  my  usual  modest  manner,  the  ordinary 
avocation  of  a  delegate  to  this  Congress,  when  I  was  summoned  by  the  smiling 
face  of  my  friend  Mr.  Briggs,  and  requested  as  a  prominent  officer  of  this 
Congress  to  grace  with  my  presence  the  platform  upon  which  I  now  stand, 
I  was  brought  under  somewhat  fraudulent  representations  and  placed  before 
you  without  a  moment's  warning,  that  I  might,  if  I  had  it  in  my  heart,  say  to 
you  of  San  Francisco  and  to  you  of  California  some  word  of  response  for  the 
greetings  you  have  extended  us.  It  may  not  be  inappropriate  that  the  only 
delegate,  the  only  guest  within  your  city  walls  from  Galveston,  should  bring 
to  San  Francisco  some  message  of  peace  and  sympathy;  it  may  not  be  inap- 
propriate that  the  little  city  by  the  Mexican  Gulf,  that  little  city  which  storm 
and  wind  and  wave  could  not  destroy,  should  come  and  pay  its  tribute  and  lay 
its  flowers  of  brotherly  affection  at  the  feet  of  that  still  greater  city  upon 
the  Pacific  Ocean,  which  even  the  gigantic  forces  underground,  the  rumble  of 
the  earthquake,  and  the  fierce  flame  of  fire  could  not  destroy,  but  could  barely 
check  in  its  onward  progress.  (Applause.)  As  a  survivor  of  the  great  Galves- 
ton storm,  I  greet  you,  my  brothers  of  brain  and  brawn,  you  good  women  and 
brave  men  of  San  Francisco;  and  I  know  as  my  heart  beats,  and  I  know  as  my 
brow  lifts  to  the  earliest  kisses  of  the  morning's  sun,  that  as  brave  Americans, 
kindly  men,  and  virtuous  women,  you  cannot  be  stopped  in  your  onward 
progress,  not  alone  to  commercial  prosperity,  not  alone  to  wealth  and  fame 
and  fortune,  but  on  your  onward  journey  to  better  things,  to  greater  civic 
virtue,   to   higher  moral  acquirements,   to   a   grander   and   a   nobler   civilization. 


20  REPORT    OF    PROCEEDINGS 

And  may  the  God  Almighty,  who  blesses  the  efforts  of  all  honest  thinking-  men 
prosper  you,  and   prosper  you  again  :     I  thank  you.     (Applause.) 

By  Chairman  Briggs: 

I  think  Montana  ought  to  have  a  show  too.  And,  without  making  any 
apology  for  it,  I  am  going  to  ask  Mr.  Herbert  Strain  if  he  will  step  forward 
and  give  us  the  benefit  of  his  presence  and  his  eloquence  for  a  few  minutes. 
If  Mr.  Strain  is  in  the  audience  I  would  like  to  have  him  step  forward. 
I  am  told  he  is  here,  but  he  is  a  very  modest  gentleman,  and  if  someone 
will  start  him  over  this  way  I  shall  be  very  much  obliged  to  him. 

response:  prom  hr,  Herbert  strain,  of  Montana. 

By  Mr.  Herbert  Strain,  of  (;r«-jit  Palls. 

I  am  no  orator,  bul  I  wish  i"  thank  the  citizens  of  the  city  of  San  Fran- 
cisco and  the  state  of  California  fur  the  cordial  invitation  of  one  year  ago 
and  for  the  enthusiastic  greeting  with  which  you  have  met  us.  I  was  not 
aware  thai  r  would  be  called  upon.  I  want  to  say  that  I  am  here  to  enjoy 
myself  and  will  do  so  as  long  as  I  remain  here.  This  is  my  first  trip  to  this 
city,  and  I  intend  to  look  around  and  see  what  you  have.  I  thank  you. 
<  Applause.  I 

By  Chairman  Briggs: 

Mr.  Strain  did  not  quite  get  away  from  me.  He  tried  to,  but  he 
did  not  quite  do  it.  I  am  going  to  try  again.  I  am  going  to  try  to  sqq 
what  Washington  will  do,  and  now  ask  Governor  McGraw  if  he  wall  come  to 
the  rostrum. 

By  a  Delegate: 

Governor   McGraw  has  just  stepped  out. 

By  Chairman  Briggs: 

We  will  leave  him  for  a  lew  minutes  and  try  someone  else.  T  know 
there  is  a  gentleman  here  who  will  not  get  away  from  me,  and  that  is 
Colonel  Fred  W.  Fleming,  and  I  am  going  to  ask  if  Colonel  Fleming 
will  come  to  the  rostrum.  I  have  the  pleasure,  ladies  and  gentlemen,  of 
presenting  Colonel  Fleming,  of  Missouri. 

RESPONSE    nv    COL.    PRED    W.    fii.minc;.    of     missoi  hi. 
Bj    Mr.   Fleming,  of   Kansas   Cltyj 

Mr.  Chairman,  and  Gentlemen  of  the  Congress:  Twelve  months  ago,  in 
Oklahoma,  al  the  Eighteenth  session  of  the  Congress,  the  gentleman  who  is 
presiding   this   morning,    Mr.    Br)  and    Col.    n.    D.    Loveland,    of   San    Fran- 

cisco,  whom  the  [ndians  In  thai  new  State  affectionately  .iui>i>ed  "Harry" 
Loveland,  Invited  the  Congress  to  come  to  San  Francisco  this  year  in  order 
to  witness  the  greal  achievements  <>(  this  community  in  rebuilding  this 
stricken   eity.     i   can   only  say  In   the   f-  tits  thai   it  is  expected  of  me 

this   i 'ning,   thai    the   progress   and    forwardness   of   the   work    of   rebuilding 

this    beautiful    city    is    almost    beyond    the    comprehension    of    any    man    who 

,,,,t  had  the  opportunity  of  looking  it  over.  The  recuperative  power  of 
s.mi  Francisco  has  never  been  duplicated  In  the  history  of  1 1 1  <  -  world.  (Ap- 
plause.) it  emphasizes  the  American  spirit,  the  Indomitable  spirit  of  progress 
thai    will    ii.it    be  down    or    discouraged    :ii    any    misfortune,    however 

grea  f   the  disaster  maj    b< 

w  ,    are  glad   to  be  here,     Thi    d<   ■  from   Missouri   have  come  a   long 

distance.     We   feel   thai    "we  have  been   shown,"   which    Is   the   proverbial    pre- 

ti\,-  of  all  Mlssourians  everywhere;  and  we  are  glad  to  be  here  and 
glad  to  see  the  Coi  >pen  under  Buch  an  auspicious  beginning,    i  Applause.) 

By  Chairman    Briggs: 

I  feel  ashamed  to  even  attempl  to  Introduce  Tom  Richardson,  of  Port- 
land,  Oregon.  He  la  so  much  better  known  than  I  am,  that  it  is  sort  of 
a  Farce  to  Introduce  him.  I  am  going  to  Introduce,  or,  rather,  present — not 
Introduce    our  distinguished  friend   from   Portland,  Tom  Richardson. 


ED   F.    HARRIS,   Galveston,   Texas. 
Chairman     Committee     on     Resolutions. 


TRANS-MISSISSIPPI    COMMERCIAL    CONGRESS  21 

RESPONSE    BY    MR.    TOM    RICHARDSON,    OF    OREGON. 
By  Mr.  Richardson,  of  Portland: 

Ladies  and  Gentlemen,  and  Members  of  the  Trans-Mississippi  Commer- 
cial Congress:  It  is  really  a  delight  to  come  here  from  Oregon  and  join 
with  California  in  welcoming  you  out  to  this  part  of  the  United  States.  To 
me  and  to  Colonel  Fleming,  and  to  a  number  of  others,  like  Senator  Harris, 
Judge  Shurtliff,  and  a  great  many  others,  this  is  a  family  affair.  It  began 
nineteen  years  ago,  and  there  are  a  lot  of  faces  who  are  here  today  that 
have  been  at  St.  Louis,  that  have  been  at  New  Orleans,  at  St.  Paul,  at 
Seattle,  at  Portland — at  all  the  meetings  of  this  Congress.  It  is  the  only 
organization  of  its  kind,  the  only  one  that  from  purely  unselfish  devotion 
to  public  duty  ever  existed  in  any  country  for  such  a  length  of  time.  The 
Trans-Mississippi  Commercial  Congress  differs  somewhat  from  the  National 
Irrigation  Congress  in  the  fact  that  the  National  Irrigation  Congress  has 
asked  for  specific  appropriations  in  one  direction  in  which  hundreds  and 
thousands  of  men  were  personally  interested,  but  this  Trans-Mississippi 
Commercial  Congress  had  its  birth  and  growth  in  the  very  best  of  American 
sentiment;  and  the  best  of  American  sentiment  is  always  West  of  the  Missis- 
sippi  River.      I   thank  you.      (Applause.) 

By  Chairman   Briggs: 

Our  friend  Richardson  has  mentioned  the  name  of  Judge  Shurtliff,  of 
Utah.  If  Judge  Shurtliff  is  here,  we  would  be  pleased  to  have  him  step 
forward.  You  will  look  a  great  deal  better  from  here,  I  mean  to  the 
audience,  Judge.  The  Judge  tries  to  apologize,  but  I  am  going  to  present 
Judge  L.  W.  Shurtliff,  of  Utah.  I  do  not  think  he  needs  to  make  any 
apology. 

RESPONSE   BY   HON.    L.   W.    SHURTLIFF,   OF    UTAH. 
By   3Ir.   Shurtliff,  of  Ogden: 

Mr.  Chairman  and  Fellow  Delegates:  I  am  highly  pleased  to  be  with 
you  here  today,  although  I  was  late  in  arriving::  and  to  hear  the  many  pleas- 
ant greetings  of  our  fellow  citizens  of  the  Pacific  slope.  I  feel  very  grateful 
that  we  have  the  opportunity  of  meeting  in  this  city  that  so  recently  was 
practically  destroyed  by  earthquake  and  fire,  and  to  receive  so  hearty  a 
welcome  by  the  Governor,  the  Mayor,  and  the  people  of  this  city.  I  trust  that 
our  labors  will  not  only  be  of  a  character  to  bless  and  benefit  the  Pacific 
slope,  but  will  extend  not  only  to  the  Trans-Mississippi  region,  but  to  the 
United  States  in  the  far  East.  Whatever  will  build  up  the  West  will  benefit 
the  whole  country.  I  thank  you  for  your  attention.  I  hope  that  our  deliber- 
ations will  meet  with  the  approval  of  not  only  the  people,  but  of  the  law 
makers.      (Applause.) 

By  Chairman   Briggs: 

I  am  looking  now  a  good  ways  south,  and  if  Mr.  W.  O.  Hart,  of  Louisiana, 
will  step  to  the  rostrum,  we  will  be  very  glad  to  see  him.  Ladies  and 
gentlemen,  I  have  the  pleasure  of  presenting  to  you  Mr.  Hart,  of  Louisiana. 

RESPONSE  BY  MB.  W.  O.  HART,  OF  LOUISIANA. 
Presentation   of  the   Gavel. 
By  Mr.  Hart,  of  New  Orleans: 

Mr.  Chairman  and  Members  of  the  Trans-Mississippi  Congress:  I  want 
to  say  to  you  that  Louisiana  not  only  says  things,  but  Louisiana  does  things. 
And  without  any  introduction,  I  desire  to  present  on  behalf  of  the  state  of 
Louisiana  to  the  president  of  the  Trans-Mississippi  Commercial  Congress  a 
gavel  made  from  a  magnolia  tree  on  the  battlefield  of  Chalmette,  just  below 
the  city  of  New  Orleans,  that  battlefield  on  which  Andrew  Jackson  achieved 
his  wonderful  victory  the  8th  of  January,  1815:  without  which  victory  proba- 
bly there  would  be  no  Trans-Mississippi  section,  and  no  Trans-Mississippi 
Commercial  Congress.  I  make  the  presentation,  Mr.  Chairman,  on  behalf  of 
the  United  States  daughters  of  1776  and  1812,  a  Louisiana  organization  which 
has  charge  of  the  Chalmette  Monument,  which  marks  that  battlefield,  which 
monument  has  just  been  completed  through  an  appropriation  from  the  Con- 
gress of  the  United  States,  which  was  obtained  by  the  members  of  that 
organization.  That  monument  not  only  marks  the  spot  of  that  battlefield, 
but  it  is  the  first  thing  that  is  seen  as  ships  ascend  the  Mississippi  River. 
The  monument  has  now  been  completed  and  will  be  dedicated  with  appropriate 


22  REPORT    OP    PRO<  E3EDINGS 

ceremonies  on  the  8th  of  January  nexl  year,  the  anniversary  of  that  occasion, 
an  anniversary  and  an  occasion  at   which  I   hope  many  of  you  may  be  present. 

i  Applause.) 

By   Chairman    Briggs: 

There  are  other  places  where  they  do  things,  too.  I  happened  to  be  in 
Oklahoma  about  the  time  the  State  was  admitted  into  the  Union,  and 
made  the  acquaintance  of  a  gentleman  by  the  name  of  Trumbo,  and  I 
found  that  he  was  one  of  the  men  who  did  more  things  in  a  shorter  space 
of  time  than  any  man  I  had  met  in  many  years.  I  should  like  to  have  Mr. 
Trumbo  come  forward.  (Applause.)  I  have  the  very  great  pleasure  of 
presenting  Mr.  Trumbo,  of  Muskogee,  Oklahoma. 

RESPONSE    IIV    MR.    A.   C.  TKI  MHO.   OP   OKLAHOMA. 
Bs    Mr.  Trumbo  of  Muskogeea 

Ladies  and  Gentlemen,  .Mr.  Chairman  and  Fellow  Delegates:  A  little 
over  sixteen  years  ago  I  '-am.'  to  California  through  the  beneficence  of  Senator 
ami  .Mrs.  Stanford,  and  today,  as  l  am  here,  1  wish  to  pause  a  moment  and 
pay  a  respect  to  tin-  memory  of  those  greal  1 pie  of  your  State. 

I  came  here  sixteen  years  ago  am!  entered  as  a  junior  at  the  Stanford 
University;  and  if  the  Chairman  has  talked  to  you  properly  today  in  saying 
that  we  "did  things"  in  Oklahoma,  it  certainly  is  due  to  the  fact  that  I  learned 
to   do   things    in   California.    (Applause.) 

I  have  a  great  confidence  in  the  success  and  the  results  attained  by  the 
Trans-Mississippi  Commercial  Congress.  Two  years  ago  in  Kansas  City  I 
met  these  gentlemen  whom  we  find  here  today,  our  secretary  and  our  presi- 
dent. Colonel  Fleming,  and  Mr.  Cannon  of  Utah,  and  many  of  you  other 
gentlemen;  and  it  was  at  thai  time  that  our  Little  city  of  .Muskogee  was  a 
candidate  for  the  eighteenth  session  of  this  Congress.  We  were  in  competition 
with  San  Francisco  and  Denver.  Ami  after  making  an  earnest  appeal  to  the 
members  of  this  Congress,  on  the  advent  of  our  statehood,  that 
on.-  of  the  greatesl  things  this  Congress  could  do  would  be  to  come  to  our 
state  and  start  us  off  properly  as  a  pari  of  this  great  Western  country,  we 
finally  succeeded  and  landed  the  Congress.  It  was  a  great  undertaking. 
We  were  compelled   to  build  a   magnificent  convention   hall,  costing  us  $60,000. 

In  addition  to  that  we  had  to  guarantee  the  $5,000  for  the  expenses  of  the 
Congress.  1  believe  that  many  of  the  men  that  are  here  today  look  hack 
with  pleasure  to  that  occasion.  Colonel  Loveland  was  our  president;  Mr. 
Briggs  was  with  us.  acting  jM  the  same  capacity  today  as  I  did  at  that  time; 
ami    I    believe   they    will   all   agree   that    Muskogee,   Oklahoma,   is  a  good  city, 

and  that  they  all  had  a  good  lime  and  were  royally  entertained.  Your  distin- 
guished   men    now    welcome    the    notable    nan    of    the    Western    country    today    as 

we  did  then.  We  from  Oklahoma  and  the  other  states  appreciate  that  wel- 
come   which    you    have    given    us    today. 

]  want  to  say  this:  1  think  that  this  Trans-Mississippi  Commercial  Con- 
gress, representing  all  the  different  communities  of  this  greal  country,  is 
one   of    the    greatesl    institutions    that    we    have.    We    come    here    knowing   no 

creeds,    no    politics,    only    as    practical    com ,  -  sense    business    men.      We   do    not 

come  offering  any   theories,  as  college  presidents  or  as  political  economists  or 

sociologists,   wedded    to  a theorj      hut    we  come   here  in   this  convention   to 

talk  good  common,  plain  sense  as  we  find  it  in  tin-  world  at  large.  We  are 
men  of  the  world;  we  are  men  of  business,  men  who  come  here,  win.  paj  our 
own  expenses,  owing  no  allegiance  to  anyone,  asking  no  favors  or  odds  of 
anybody.     We  conn    here  from  all   the  Western  country  to  exchange   ideas  and 

thresh     them    out;     I     would     like    to    hear    from    all     these    differ. -tit     people,     from 

Hose  different   states,   these  delegates   who  are  here,  and    i    hope   thai    we  may 

all    go    home    taking    With    US   S g I    ideas,    thai     Will    had    to    some    practical 

results.  We  do  nol  all  agrei  in  Oklahoma.  Some  of  us  believe  In  one  thing 
and  some  In  another.  We  have  some  troubles  at  present,  bul  we  al]  go  out 
mi'  our  Si  anding  together;   and   ti |j    thing   Oklahoma    wishes   to  pre- 

sent to  this  Congress  is  thai  we  may  have  the  opportunity  to  present  some 
good    argument    In    behalf    of    the    Arkansas    River.      (Applausi 

By   Chairman    Briggs: 

Kansas  always  likes  to  be  on  the  map,  and  we  like  to  have  her,  and 
I  have  my  eye  and  I  have  had  mj  eye  on  one  gentleman  from  Kansas, 
Mr.  C.  M.  rlarger.  I  would  like  to  have  him  step  forward.  I  have  the 
pleasure  of  presenting  Mr.  rlarger,  of  Kansas. 


ARTHUR  C.  TRUMBO,  Muskogee,  Oklahoma. 
Chairman    Advisory    Committee. 


TRANS-MISSISSIPPI    COMMERCIAL    CONGRESS  23 

RESPONSE     OF     MR.     C.    M.    HARGER,    OP     KANSAS. 
By    Mr.    Hargcr,    of    AMleue: 

Mr.  Chairman,  Ladies  and  Gentlemen  of  San  Francisco  and  of  California: 
We  extend  to  you — not  hands  across  the  sea,  but — hands  across  the  mountains. 
Kansas  was  the  father  of  the  Trans-Mississippi  Commercial  Congress.  The 
resolution  out  of  which  it  grew  was  adopted  by  the  Legislature  of  the  state 
of  Kansas,  and  we  are  glad  we  did  it.  The  work  that  it  has  accomplished 
has  been  very  satisfactory  to  us  who  began  it,  and  those  who  helped  to  carry 
it  on;  and  when  you  honored  us  last  year  by  electing  a  Kansan  as  president 
of  the  association,  we  were  more  glad  than  ever  that  we  had  done  it.  As  we 
came  over  to  San  Francisco,  across  the  mountains  and  over  the  barren  plains 
and  then  down  your  beautiful  valleys  and  landed  in  your  splendid  city,  we 
were  more  proud  than  ever  that  we  had  had  an  opportunity  to  come  over  here 
and    see    you. 

You  are  good  advertisers.  There  is  only  one  state  in  the  world  that  can 
advertise  better  than  California,  and  that  is  Kansas.  (Applause.)  But  you 
have  not  told  all  of  it.  We  are  surprised  and  delighted  and  charmed  with  the 
beauty  and  the  magnificence  of  your  State  and  of  your  city;  and  we  are  par- 
ticularly pleased  with  the  greetings  you  have  given  us  and  the  cordiality  of 
your  hearts.  We  shall  spend  a  few  days  in  your  city  and  in  your  State,  and 
I  am  sure  that  we  shall  all  go  home  to  Kansas  more  glad  than  ever  that  we 
crossed  to  the  Pacific  Coast  with  the  Trans-Mississippi  Commercial  Congress 
for   this  Nineteenth   Session. 

On  behalf  of  Kansas  and  its  delegates,  I  thank  you  for  your  greetings;  and 
I  assure  you  that  if  at  any  time  California  and  San  Francisco  want  anything 
that  Kansas  can  help  you  get,  all  you  have  to  do  is  to  whistle.  Thank  you. 
(Applause.) 

By  Chairman   Briggs: 

I  hope  all  will  remain  because  there  is  an  important  matter  coming  up 
before  the  recess  at  noon.  The  secretary  has  some  communications  which  I 
am  sure  you  would  like  to  hear,  and  after  these  communications,  an  an- 
nouncement will  be  made  for  the  afternoon,  after  which  we  shall  have  the 
address  of  the  president,  Hon.  J.  B.  Case,  of  Kansas.  Mr.  Secretary,  you 
may  read  your  communications. 

By    Secretary    Francis:- 
(Reading.) 

COMMUNICATION    FROM    PRESIDENT    ROOSEVELT. 

White   House,    Washington,   September    24,    190S. 
My   Dear  Mr.   Case: 

I  greatly  regret  that  it  is  not  in  my  power  to  accept  your  kind  invita- 
tion to  Sttend  the  Trans-Mississippi  Congress.  It  is  one  of  the  bodies  which 
can  do  most  for  this  country,  and  I  am  in  the  heartiest  and  warmest  sympathy 
with  its  purposes.  If  it  were  possible  for  me  to  attend  any  meeting  this  year, 
I  should  certainly  have  been  present  at  yours.  All  I  can  properly  do  as  Presi- 
dent to  further  what  your  organization  is  seeking  to  accomplish,  will  as  a 
matter   of  course   be   done. 

Pray  accept  my  best  wishes  for  the  success  of  the  Congress,  and  convey 
t<>  those  assembled  my  thanks  for,  and  appreciation  of,  the  work  they  aro 
doing  for  the   national   welfare. 

Sincerely  yours, 

THEODORE    ROOSEVELT. 

Mi-.    J.    B.    Case,    President    Trans-Mississippi    Commercial    Congress,    Abilene, 
Kansas. 
(Prolonged  applause.) 

By   Secretary    Francis: 

TELEGRAM    FROM    HON.    WM.    H.    TAFT. 

Lincoln,    Neb.,    Sept.    30,    1908. 
J.   B.   Case,   President,   Trans-Mississippi   Commercial    Congress,   San   Francisco, 
I  beg  to  send  my  greetings  and  good  wishes  to  the  Trans-Mississippi  Com- 
mercial  Congress,   which   is   to  be   held   in   San   Francisco   on   October   6th,    and 
hope  that  the  meeting  will  be  productive  of  much  good. 

WM.    H.    TAFT. 
(Applause.) 


24  REPORT    OF    PROCEEDINGS 

By  Secretary  Francis: 

TKl.l'.lilUM     FROM     HON.    WM.    J.    BR\W. 

Lincoln,   Neb..   Oct.    4.    1908. 
J.    B.   Case,   President   Trans-Mississippi    Commercial   Congress,    San    Francisco. 
Cal. 

Please  present  my  greetings  to  those  in  attendance  and  to  the  Trans- 
Mississippi  Commercial  Congress,  and  express  to  them  my  regret  that  I  cannot 
be  present  with  them.  I  remember  with  grateful  appreciation  the  honor 
which  the  Congress  has  done  me  and  recall  with  much  pleasure  the  meetings 
I  have  been  able  to  attend.  With  hearty  sympathy  Cor  the  purposes  of  the 
Congress  and  with  best  wishes  to  its  members.   1  remain, 

Yours   truly, 

W.    J.    BRYAN. 

(Applause.) 

By  Secretary  Francis: 

TBLB6RAH   FROM    HON.  L>.  R.  FRANCIS. 

St.  Louis.  Mo.,  Oct.  5,   1908. 
J.  B.  Case,  President,  Trans-Mississippi  Commercial  Congress,  San  Francisco. 

I  tender  hearty  greetings  to  the  Nineteenth  Annual  Session  of  the  Trans- 
Mississippi  Commercial  Congress  and  sincere  regrets  that  other  engage- 
ments prevent  my  attending  this  annual  meeting  which  I  trust  will  be  even 
more  far  reaching  and  beneficial  to  the  interests  of  our  section  than  has  any 
of  its  worthy  predecessors.  To  the  president,  secretary  and  individual  mem- 
bers I  make  grateful  acknowledgment  for  courtesies  extended  and  hope 
nothing  will  prevent  my  attending  any  future  session  of  this  representative 
organization   where   proper  recognition   is  gained   only   by  concerted  action. 

DAVID   R.   FRANCIS. 

(Applause.) 

By  Secretary  Francis: 

COMMUNICATION   FROM    TIIK   JAPANESE   AMBASSADOR. 

Imperial  Japanese   Embassy,    Washington,   September   30,    1908. 
Hon.   Arthur  R.   Briggs,   Chairman,   San   Francisco,   California. 

Dear  Sir:  Confirming  my  telegram  in  which  I  expressed  regret  for  not 
being  able  to  attend  the  Nineteenth  Annual  Session  of  the  Trans-Mississippi 
Commercial  Congress  to  be  held  in  your  city,  I  beg  again  to  thank  you  for 
the  spirit  of  cordial  good  will  you  have  shown  me  in  extending  this  courteous 
invitation.  I  fully  recognize  the  significance  of  the  meeting  and  I  may  add 
Consul-General  Koike,  in  forwarding  the  invitation  to  me,  used  the  strongest 
words  of  commendation.  I  would  have  been  the  last  to  decline  your  kind 
invitation  to  be  present,  if  it  were  not  that  I  am  compelled  by  circumstances 
to  remain   here. 

It  is,  indeed,  exceedingly  unfortunate  that  the  resumption  of  my  duties 
here  in  Washington,  after  a  long  absence  during  the  summer,  and  the 
renewed  activities  in  official  circles,  prevent  me  from  accepting  your  invita- 
tion. I  feel  doubly  sorry  when  I  think  that  this  condition  so  unfortunately 
happens  at  a  time  when  every  preparation  is  being  made  by  your  Local 
Committee  to  insure  the  brilliant  success  of  this  forthcoming  annual  session 
of  the  Trans-Mississippi  Commercial  Congress,  l  assure  you,  however,  that 
I  am  deeply   concerned  and   hope  your  purpos  is  will  be  fully  realized. 

While  1  cannot  share  with  you  the  pleasure  of  witnessing  the  successful 
fulfillment  of  the  proposed  program  of  your  meeting,  I  am  nevertheless  inter- 
ested in  the  subjects  the  Congress  will  consider.  It  is  presumptuous  for  me 
to  attempt  to  Inform  yon  what  pari  the  vast  territory  known  as  the  Trans- 
Mississippi  district  has  done  in  building  up  the  political  and  industrial  life  of 
this  greal  Republic.  You  are  too  well  informed  as  to  its  natural  resources 
and  geographical  advantages  t"  hear  from  me.  I  may  be  permitted,  however, 
I  think  this  is  a  lit  occasion,  to  give  expression  to  the  opinion  which  my 
countrymen  have  relative  t"  the  development  of  this  magnificent  district. 
The  people  of  Japan  consider  it  essential  to  their  welfare  to  have  as  neighbors 
communities  and  nations  which  are  advanced  and  prosperous,  so  that  they 
may  derive  benefits  from  the  Intercourse  which  is  bound  to  exist  Such 
is  the  position  which  your  district  hears  to  Japan,  and  of  which  your  city  is 
one  of  the  principal   gateways  t<>  the  Orient   from   the  West. 

Moreover,  the  view  that  the  future  of  this  great  Republic  largely  hinges 
upon  the  development  and  progress  of  Its  western  section  Is  not  over-sanguine 
or  without   foundation.     The  commercial    world   Is  dailj  ding  from  west 

to   east,   and    it    will   not    be    long   before   the    Pacific   will   be   teeming-  with   an 
enormous    traffic.      I    am,    therefor*  In    that    the    work   of   your   Cone-r^s* 

will   be  productive   ol    great    results.  s  eM 


TRANS-MISSISSIPPI    COMMERCIAL    CONGRESS  25 

I  regret  I  shall  not  have  the  opportunity  of  meeting  the  many  distinguished 
gentlemen  who  are  so  deeply  interested  in  this  great  work  and  who  will  be 
present  at  the  sessions  of  your  Congress;  but  I  wish  again  to  assure  you 
of  my  deep  appreciation  of  your  courteous  invitation,  and  sincerely  regret  my 
inability  to  be  present.  I  hope  you  will  express  to  your  associates  on  the 
committee  my  hearty  wishes  for  the  success  of  your  present  and  your  future 
undertakings. 

With   the  assurance   of  my  best  regards,   I  remain, 

Very   truly   yours, 

KOGORO    TAKAHIVA. 
By  Secretary  Francis: 

PACIFIC  COAST   DEFENSES. 

War    Department, 
Office  of  the   Chief  of  Engineers,   Washington, 

September   22,    1908. 
Mr.  Arthur  F.  Francis,  Secretary,  Trans-Mississippi  Commercial  Congress,  San 
Francisco,   Cal. 

Dear  Sir: 

1.  Your  letter  of  September  11,  190S,  inviting  the  Chief  of  Engineers  co 
address  the  Trans-Mississippi  Commercial  Congress  at  San  Francisco,  meeting 
October   6-10,  has  been   received. 

2.  I  regret  that  I  cannot  be  present  in  person,  or  delegate  to  one  of  my 
officers  the  pleasant  duty  of  making  an  address  on  Sea  Coast  Defenses.  It 
is  a  subject  about  which  silence  is  golden,  for  the  less  any  possible  enemy 
knows,    the    better,    and    an    address    is    necessarily    public    property. 

3.  For  your  own  information,  I  do  not  hesitate  to  say  that  the  Pacific 
Coast  defenses  are  today  in  an  excellent  shape  to  repel  attack,  and,  with  each 
additional  year,  will  be  made  stronger  and  stronger,  if  the  United  States 
Congress  continues  to  make  the  appropriations  necessary  to  carry  on  the 
work. 

Very   truly   yours, 

W.   L.   MARSHALL. 
Brig.   Gen.,   Chief   of  Engineers,   U.   S.   Army. 
(Applause.) 

By  Secretary  Francis: 

NATIONAL,    CONSERVATION    COMMISSION. 

Washington,  September  26,  1908. 
Hon.   J.    B.    Case,    President,    Trans-Mississippi    Commercial    Congress,    Abilene, 

Kas. 
My   Dear  Mr.   Case: 

Upon  my  return  to  Washington,  after  an  absence  of  several  weeks,  I  have 
your    letter    of    September    22. 

I  want  to  thank  you  most  cordially  for  the  assurance  that  a  Conservation 
Commission  will  be  appointed  to  co-operate  with  the  Federal  Commission  at 
the    coming   meeting   in    San    Francisco. 

The  interest  of  the  Trans-Mississippi  Commercial  Congress  in  the  con- 
servation movement  is  very  greatly  appreciated,  and  it  is  with  profound 
regret,  as  I  have  several  times  written,  that  I  find  myself  in  a  position  which 
makes  it  absolutely  impossible  for  me  to  be  present  at  your  meeting.  The 
work  in  connection  with  the  National  Conservation  Commission  is  so  very 
heavy  at  this  time,  that  this,  together  with  the  pressure  of  official  duties, 
makes  it  imperative  for  me  to  be  in  Washington  at  the  time  the  Congress  is 
held.  Your  kind  personal  words  are  indeed  appreciated.  It  would  be  a  great 
pleasure  to  meet  you  and  talk  over  the  many  phases  of  this  work. 

The  commission  will  be  officially  represented  by  Hon.  George  C.  Pardee, 
ex-Governor  of  California,  who,  I  am  sure,  will  present  the  subject  of  con- 
servation in  a  most  helpful  manner.  And  doubtless  other  members  will  be 
present. 

Very  sincerely  yours, 

GIFFORD    PINCHOT,    Chairman. 

(Applause.) 

By  Secretary  Francis: 

FROM   HON.   O.   S.    STRAUS,    SECRETARY   DEPARTMENT   COMMERCE    AND 

LABOR. 

Department    of   Commerce   and   Labor, 
Office   of  the   Secretary, 
Washington,   September  17,   1908. 
Mr.  Arthur  F.  Francis,  Secretary,  San  Francisco,  Calif. 

Dear  Sir:  I  beg  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  your  favor  of  the  12th 
instant,  enclosing  a  copy  of  the  official  call  for  the  Nineteenth  Annual  Session 


2f»  REPORT    OF    PROCEEDINGS 

of  the  Congress,  to  be  held  In  the  city  of  San  Francisco,  octobct  >.  in,  190S. 
I  thank  you  very  much  for  the  compliment  your  Invitation  conveys,  but 
exceedingly  regret  that,  on  account  of  the  pressure  of  official  business,  which 
i-  especially  exacting  al  this  time  In  preparing  reports  and  other  matters 
connected  with  legislation  prior  to  the  meeting  of  Congress,  I  will  be  unable 
to  avail  myself  Of  the  pleasure  it  would  otherwise  give  me  to  attend  the 
Congress. 

With  best   wishes  for  the  Buccesa  of  the  Congress, 

Very  truly  yours. 

OSCAR  S.   STRAUS. 

By  Secretary  Francis: 

PROM     r.    .1.    \.    SKIFF,     AMERICAN     COMMISSIONER     TO    TOKIO,    JAPAN. 

The    Field    Museum    of    Natural    History, 
Chicago,   Illinois.   September  in.  1908. 
Honorable  Thomas  P.   Walsh,  Chairman.   Executive  Committee,  The  Trans- 
Mississippi  Commercial   Congress. 

Hear   Sir: 

I  have  received  your  favor  of  the  3rd  instant,  inviting  me  to  address  the 
Trans-Mississippi  Commercial  Congress  at  San  Francisco,  at  its  19th  animal 
session.  October  6-10,  on  the  subject  of  the  mining  industry,  and  the  advisa- 
bility of  the  establishment  of  a  Governmental  department  devoted  to  the 
protection    and    development    of    our    great    mineral    resources. 

T  should  be  very  glad  to  speak  upon  this  subject,  as  I  have  done  upon  at 
ii sasl  two  occasions,  but  my  absence  from  the  country  on  the  day  stated  will 
deprive  me  of  the  privilege  and  the  honor  of  addressing  this  session  of  the 
Congress.  I  am  leaving  in  a  few  days  for  Japan  as  one  of  the  Government's 
Commissioners-General    to   the    Exposition    to   be    held    in    that    country. 

I  wish  to  Bay,  however,  that  the  organization  of  which  you  are  the 
executive  head,  is  one  In  which  1  have  always  felt  the  deepest  interest  and  one 
which   I  have  always  held   in   the   highest    respect. 

I  was  a  delegate  representing  Colorado  at  its  first  meeting,  and  addressed 
a  most  notable  gathering  at  the  Coates  Opera  House,  in  Kansas  City.  I  have 
marked,  with  great  satisfaction,  the  remarkable  growth  of  the  organization, 
and  have  observed  that  it  has  faithfully  progressed  along  tin-  pre-deter- 
miiied    lines   which    its    founders   had    marked    out. 

As  an  educational  agency  affecting  not  only  the  "Western  states,  but  the 
whole  country,  it  leads  the  quasi  public  bodies  of  the  [Jnited  States.  Confining 
its  province  to  suggestion,  it  naturally  exercises  a  great  influence  upon  legis- 
lation. 

.Meeting  in  annual  session  at  different  important  points  in  the  Trans-Mis- 
sissippi country,  exchanging  and  appropriating  the  views  and  judgment  of 
public-spirited  and  patriotic  men,  it  has  not  failed,  and  cannot  tail,  in  making 
effective  impressions  upon  the  minds  of  those  who  are  charged  with  the 
making    of    the    laws    id'    the    stales    ami    id'    the    federation. 

In  reference  to  the  them.'  upon  which  you  have  Invited  me  to  speak,  I  still 
entertain  the  hope  thai  ultimately  the  great  Industry  of  mining  may  receive 
that  adequate  consideration  which  it  deserves  as  a  department  of  the  general 
government,  co-ordinate  with  that  other  great  department  devoted  to  our 
natural   resources     agriculture. 

I  believe  that  in  the  end.  which  cannot  be  far  in  the  future,  the  efforts 
which   you  and  your  associates  have  put   forth  for  nineteen  years  in  moulding 

public    opinion    UPOII    this    question,    will    result     in    success.       I'.ut     of    course    this 

achievement    must   be  accomplished  by  degrei 

our  magniflcenl  Department  of  Agriculture  did  not  reach  its  present 
high  state  of  efficiency  :iii  at  once,  it  grew  with  the  experience  which  came 
with   the  development   of  its  scope  and   with   th :currence   of   Its  opportuni- 

t  ies. 

So   it    win   be   with    the    Department    of   Mines.      Your   efforts   last    year   in 
ecuring  the  passage  by  the  House  of  Representatives  of  the  bill  for  a   Bureau 

of    Mines    ami    Mining,    and    vour    sue. ess    in    securing    the    Incorporation    i 
plank    in    the   platform    of    one    ..t     the    great    political    parties,    recommending    the 

passage  of  this  law,  ami  th.-  same  service  performed  by  your  associates  in 
the  Congress,  before  another  great  national  party,  mark  the  nrsl  greal  and 
conclusive  step  in   the  establishment  of  this  department. 

n    -.ems   to   me  th.it    thert  era!   unanimity  of  ..pinion   throughout 

the  country  that  Hie  industry  of  mdning  demands  this  recognition  on  the 
part   of   the   general    goveri  and   thai    the   wonderfully   successful   opera- 

tions  of  tiie  iiej.artm.ni  ..f  Agriculture  should  be  a  Bufncienl  Indication  for 
the  establishment  of  a  simllai  department  to  foster  and  promote  an  equally 
great    branch   of  our  economic  affairs. 

Having  secured  Buch  an  Important  i  cognition  as  the  establishment  of  a 
Bureau   of   Mines  and   Mining,   with   tl pportunity  thus   afforded   to   Imp 


FREDERICK   JAMES    VOLNEY    SKIFF,   A.   M.,   LL.   D. 

Director,    Field    Museum    of   Natural    History;   National    Commissioner,    Etc. 

National  Commissioner  to  World's  Columbian  Exposition,  1893,  later, 
Chief  Department  Mines  and  Mining  and  Deputy  Director  General;  Director- 
in-Chief  United  States  Commission,  Paris  Exposition,  1900;  Director  of  Ex- 
hibits, Universal  Exposition,  St.  Louis,  1904:  Bronze  Medal  of  Merit  from 
Prance,  1900;  Gold  Medal  of  Honor  from  Germany,  1893;  Commander  Legion 
of  Honor,  France;  Commander  Order  of  Leopold,  Belgium;  Commander  Order 
of  Red  Eagle,  Germany;  Commander  Order  of  the  Sacred  Treasure,  Japan; 
Commander  Francis  Joseph,  Austria;  Commander  Double  Dragon,  China,  etc. 
Member  American  Institute  of  Mining  Engineers;  International  Museums 
Association;  National  Educational  Association;  National  Geographic  Society; 
American  Association  for  the  Advancement  of  Science,  and  Vice-President  of 
the  American  Museums  Association;  Master  of  Arts,  Colorado  College;  Doctor 
of  Laws,  George  Washington  University,  Washington,  D.  C. ;  Doctor  of  Laws, 
Washington   University,    St.    Louis,    Missouri. 


TRANS-MISSISSIPPI    COMMERCIAL    CONGRESS  27 

its    value    on    so   large    a    proportion    of    our    working    and    investing   public,    a 
department  is  certain  to  follow   within  a  reasonable  time. 

When  it  becomes  generally  recognized  that  the  operation  of  the  Bureau 
is  adding  untold  wealth  to  tbe  Nation's  resources,  the  Congress  of  the  United 
States  will  not  hestitate  to  increase  its  efficiency  and  raise  the  bureau  to  a 
department,  just  as  the  Department  of  Agriculture  has  been,  from  time  I" 
time,  increased  in  its  authority  and   its  scope. 

Wishing  the  organization  as  great  success  and  hoping  that  the  meeting 
in  San  Francisco  will  be  equal  in  interest  to,  and  as  beneficial  in  its  results 
as   former   sessions,   I  am,   with   assurances  of  my   highest  personal  esteem, 

Sincerely  yours, 

FREDERICK   J.   V.   SKIFF. 
By  Secretary   Francis: 

FROM    HON.   HENRY    R.   WHITMORE,   OF   MISSOURI. 

St.    Louis.    Missouri,    September    30th,    1908. 

Honorable   J.   B.    Case,    President  Trans-Mississippi   Commercial   Congress,    San 

Francisco,   California. 

My  Dear  Sir:  I  greatly  appreciate  your  cordial  invitation  to  attend  the 
(•nining  session  of  the  Congress,  and  very  much  regret  my  inability  to  do 
so,  but  I  heartily  congratulate  it  on  being  the  guest  of  a  city  so  well  known 
for  its  cordial  hospitality  and  its  unsurpassed  public  spirit,  and  one  which, 
for  so  many  years,  has  taken  an  active  interest  in  its  work.  I  also  con- 
gratulate the  Congress  upon  what  it  has  already  accomplished,  and  upon  the 
broad    Held    of   usefulness   which    lies  before   it. 

During  the  seventeen  years  I  have  been  identified  with  it,  many  public 
measures  have  been  advocated  which  have  already  become  accomplished  facts 
or  are  in  the  process  of  accomplishment;  such  as  the  National  Bankruptcy 
law,  the  Pacific  Cable,  the  Isthmian  Canal,  the  Annexation  of  Hawaii,  the  De- 
partment of  Commerce  and  Labor,  National  Irrigation,  the  improvement  of 
various  rivers  and  harbors,  the  extension  of  the  powers  of  the  Inter-State 
Commerce  Commission,  and  many  others  scarcely  less  important.  In  all  those, 
the  Congress  was  an  important  factor,  serving  as  a  great  educator  of  the  peo- 
ple on  subjects  of  vital  interest  to  the  public  welfare.  It  was  the  first,  and  for 
many  years  the  only,  organized  body  to  endorse  the  movement,  inaugurated  at 
the  Peoria  convention  in  1899.  for  a  deep  waterway  from  the  Lakes  to  the  Gulf. 
At  every  session  since  1900  it  has  been  ably  discussed  and  advocated  (notwith- 
standing the  opposition  or  indifference  of  some  who  now  pride  themselves 
upon  being  among  its  leading  supporters)  until  it  has  become  a  question  of 
national   interest  and   importance. 

May  the  future  of  the  Congress  be  as  successful  as  its  past;  may  it 
always  serve  as  a  forum  for  the  people,  where  public  measures  may  be 
fully  discussed  by  business  men  from  a  business  standpoint,  rather  than  by 
politicians  from  a  partisan   standpoint. 

Verv   respectfully   yours, 

HENRY   R.   WHITMORE. 

(Prolonged  applause.) 
By  Secretary  Francis: 

It  should  be  stated  that  Mr.  Whitmore  was  President  of  the  Congress 
which  convened  in  this  city  in  1894. 

By   Secretary   Francis: 

FRO>I    HON.    WALTER    GRESHAM,    OF    TEXAS. 

Galveston,    Texas.    Sept.    25,    1908. 
Hon.    J.    B.    Case,    President,    Trans-Mississippi    Commercial    Congress,    Abilene, 
Kan. 

MJ'  ?feaaseSlextend  to  the  Congress  my  regrets  at  not  being  able »  to 'attend  its 
19th  annual  session.  I  always  take  great  interest  in  its  ^libeiations  ami 
watch  with  pride  the  successful  consummation  of  the  great  work  it  has  advo 

CateThe    necessity    for    the    development   of   a    great   ^fr^Mv**™*™ 
one    of   the    first   projects    urged    by    this    body    before    the    Am      u  an       < ^     ;  ;j 
The  partial   completion   of   this   work,   at  a  cost  of  approximately  ten  milHons 
of   dollars,    has    resulted    in    a    saving    to    the    people    of    the    l  r      s-. M  is eisslpp 
country,    as   shown    by    the   official    reports    of    the   Nations     G  ,!;,.",,, 

least  ten  millions  of  dollars  a  year.     The  value  of  the foreign  commerce  tn 
annually  passes  through   this  port   is  now  next  to  that  of  New 


28  REPORT    OF    PROCEEDINGS 

the  fiscal  year  ending  June  30th,  1907,  it  aggregated  $245,081,146.00,  an  increase 
in  its  foreign  exports  in  ten  years  of  400  per  cent,  and  an  increase  during  a 
like  period  of  1106  per  cent  in  its  imports.  Its  coastwise  trade  is  greater  than 
its    foreign    trade. 

The  National  Congress,  at  its  last  session,  following  a  resolution  adopted 
by  this  Congress  at  its  Muskogee  session,  directed  a  survey  of  Galveston  Har- 
bor for  the  purpose  of  establishing  a  broad,  comprehensive  and  systematic  plan 
for  its  future  extension,  enlargement  and  deepening  so  as  to  meet  the  grovying 
needs  of  commerce.  This  survey  is  now  being  made  by  competent  and  skilled 
United  States  engineers,  and  I  confidently  expect  them  to  report  a  plan  for 
the  making  of  one  of  the  largest,  best  and  safest  harbors  in  the  world.  I  hope 
at  the  next  session  of  this  Congress  to  report  the  adoption  of  such  a  plan  by 
the*  National   Government. 

With  sentiments  of  kind  regards  for  you  and  for  the  success  of  the  Con- 
gress,  I   remain, 

Yours  very  respectfully, 

WALTER  GRESHAM. 

By  Secretary   Francis: 

FROM  HON.  GEO.  L.  SHELDON,  GOVERNOR  OF  NEBRASKA. 

State   of  Nebraska,   Executive   office, 
Lincoln,   September  24,   1908. 
J.  B.  Case,  President,  Abilene,  Kansas. 

Dear  Sir:  Replying  to  your  letter  of  the  7th  inst..  permit  me  to  suggest 
that  it  would  be  highly  pleasing  to  the  people  of  the  irrigation  section  of 
our  State  if  the  cost  of  the  Pathfinders  dam  i  ould  be  met  by  a  direct  appro- 
priation of  the  Government,  instead  of,  as  is  now  being  done,  from  the 
reclamation    service. 

It  is  my  understanding  that  work  in  the  reclamation  service  is  practically 
at  a  stands'till  on  account  of  lack  of  funds.  If  the  cost  of  this  dam,  which  I 
understand  is  something  like  $1,500,000,  could  be  met  by  a  general  appropria- 
tion, it  would  relieve  the  situation  so  that  the  work  of  the  reclamation  service 
might  go  on.  Inasmuch  as  this  great  dam  will  keep  back  the  flood  waters  of 
the  upper  Platte,  it  would  seem  that  there  is  justice  in  the  contention  of  those 
who  feel  that  it  could  properly  be  charged  up  against  an  appropriation  in 
connection  with  the  scheme  of  conserving  the  national  resources  of  the 
country. 

Many  homesteaders  who  filed  on  lands  under  the  Pathfinders  ditch  in 
Nebraska  are  now  in  destitute  circumstances  on  account  of  the  slowness  with 
which  the  work  on  the  ditch  has  progressed.  When  they  filed,  the  presump- 
tion was  that  in  a  short  time  they  would  have  water  through  this  ditch.  As 
you  well  know-,  it  is  impossible  for  a  man  to  make  a  living  in  a  semi-arid 
country  on  eighty  acres  of  land.  Therefore,  the  justice  of  the  above  sugges- 
tion   will   appeal    to   you. 

If  you  feel  like  making  this  suggestion  to  the  Congress,  it  will  certainly 
be  appreciated  by   the  people  of  Nebraska   as   well   as  by  myself. 

Very    respectfully   yours, 

G.  L.  SHELDON,  Governor. 

Referred  to  the  Committee  on  Resolutions. 
By  Secretary  Francis: 

PROM      HON.     JOHN     II.     KIHHV,     OF    TEXAS. 

St.  Louis,  Mo.,  Sept.   28,   1908. 
Hon.   J.   B.   Case.    President,   Trans-Mississippi    Commercial    Congress,   Abilene, 

Kansas. 
My    Dear    Mr.    Case: 

I  very  much  regrel  thai  other  engagements  will  prevent  my  attendance 
upon  the  meeting  of  the  Congress  In  San  Francisco  next  month.  I  trust  you 
will  have  a  successful  and  enthusiastic  meeting.  There  was  never  a  time  in 
the  life  of   the   Congress    when   there    was   more   to  engage   its   activities   than 

now. 

The  ocean  routes  of  the  commerce  01  the  world  are  about  to  be  changed, 
and  will  be  changed  with  the  completion  ol  the  Panama  Canal.  The  demands 
made  upon  our  pr.al  Trans-Mississippi  country  —  producing  the  food  supply 
of  the  world — will  be  enormously  augmented,  and  it  is  imperative  that  our 
Congress  continue  to  bad  us  In  the  development  of  those  great  enterprises 
which  make  for  the  advancement  and  higher  productivity  of  our  great  sec- 
tion. 

Regretting  thai  I  cannot  be  with  you,  and  with  assurance's  of  my  high 
esteem,  believe  me, 

\'e  iv    t ruly   yours, 

JNO.    H.    KIRBT. 


TRANS-MISSISSIPPI    COMMERCIAL    CONGRESS  29 

By  Secretary  Francis: 

The  California  Club  invites  the  visiting  ladies  to  attend  their  regular 
meeting  this  afternoon  at  3  o'clock,  at  1750  Clay  Street,  near  Van  Ness 
Avenue. 

In  connection  with  the  work  of  the  Congress  the  announcement  is 
made  prior  to  the  recess  that  the  delegations  must  get  together  and  caucus 
during  the  recess,  so  that  at  2  o'clock  upon  the  call  of  states,  the  names 
of  two  members  for  the  Committee  on  Resolutions,  one  on  Permanent 
Organization,  one  on  Executive  Committee,  and  the  vice-president  for  each 
state  and  territory  shall  be  submitted. 

The  Committee  on  Resolutions  will  then  be  in  shape  to  prosecute  busi- 
ness and  will  be  ready  for  the  resolution  hour — between  10  and  11  o'clock 
tomorrow    morning. 

I  am  also  requested  to  state  by  the  Executive  Committee  that  it  is  the 
earnest  desire  of  every  member  of  the  Executive  Committee  and  the  officials 
that  the  people  of  San  Francisco  shall  attend  these  meetings,  and  those 
who  are  here  now  are  requested  to  disseminate  this  information,  so  that  the 
presence  of  every  one  possible  may  be  obtained.  The  public  generally  is 
not  only  desired,  but  is  welcome;  all  meetings  are  open. 

By  Chairman  Briggs: 

Our  president  has  'been  exceedingly  patient  during  the  detail  of  the 
morning  hour.  We  have  now  reached  the  point  where  we  shall  hear  from 
the  president  with  his  annual  address.    President  J.  B.  Case. 

ADDRESS    OP    HON.   J.    B.    CASE,    OF   KANSAS. 
By   President   J.  B.   Case,  of   Abilene: 

Members  of  the  Trans-Mississippi  Commercial  Congress,  Ladies  and  Gentlemen: 

First- 1  desire  to  thank  the  local  committee  and  the  vice-chairman  of  the 
executive  committee,  Mr.  Briggs,  your  ex-president  of  the  Congress,  Mr. 
Loveland,  and  the  people  of  San  Francisco,  and  the  gentleman  from  Louisiana 
who  has  furnished   me  with  a  gavel. 

Almost  one-fifth  of  a  century  has  passed  since  this  organization  was 
formed.  It  has  seen  the  Nation  expand  and  develop  as  never  did  any  nation 
on  earth;  it  has  seen  great  men  pass  away  and  others  as  great  take  their 
places;  it  has  held  sessions  in  the  far  Northwest,  on  the  banks  of  the  Mis- 
souri, in  the  heart  of  the  mountain  region,  amid  the  magnolias  of  the 
Sunny  South  and  among  the  fertile  lands  of  the  newest  state — but  by  no 
means  the  least;  it  has  had  cordial  greetings  from  men  of  many  climes 
and  from  representatives  of  many  ambitious  cities,  but  never  in  all  its  nine- 
teen years  of  progressive  history  has  the  Trans-Mississippi  Commercial 
Congress  received  a  warmer  welcome,  or  been  the  guest  of  a  kindlier,  nobler 
people  than  here  beside  the  Golden  Gate,  in  beautiful,  courageous,  un- 
daunted, splendid  San  Francisco.  Her  wonderful  and  romantic  history,  her 
difficulties,  and  her  victories  that  have  crowned  the  city  with  glory,  should  be 
an  inspiration  not  alone  to  us  as  individuals,  but  to  our  organization  as 
an  example  of  what  American  manhood  can  do  when  inspired  by  faith 
and  hope  and  unfailing  energy.  We  extend  to  San  Francisco  our  best 
greetings;  we  honor  her  for  marvelous  achievements  past  and  for  evidence 
of  greater  accomplishments   to    come.      (Applause.) 

Nineteen  years  in  the  history  of  a  commercial  organization  is  a  long 
time.  In  that  period  it  must  determine  by  its  work  -whether  it  is  to  be  alive 
or  dead;  it  must  prove  its  right  to  exist.  I  congratulate  you  today  that 
the  Trans-Mississippi  Commercial  Congress  has  become  a  permanent,  ag- 
gressive force  in  the  upbuilding  of  the  Nation,  and  that  it  is  very  much_alive 
and  is  going  to  stay  so.  It  stands  for  the  big  things  that  are  making 
the  great  West  yet  greater,  for  the  elements  that  lift  the  business  life 
of  the  Nation,  and  it  has  been  the  originator  of  more  important  commercial 
and  legislative  achievements  than  any  body  of  men  ever  gathered  together 
outside  the  Congress  of  the  United  States. 

In  these  years  this  organization  has  turned  the  eyes  of  the  world  toward 
the  needs  of  the  new  states;  it  has  been  constructive  in  its  methods;  it 
has  built  up  and  has  never  torn  down.  These  two  decades  of  business  progress 
have  been  the  mightiest  in  the  Nation's  history,  and  I  am  proud  that  our 
organization  has  had  so  great  a  part  in  framing  the  accomplishments  of 
our   time. 


30  REPORT    OP    PROCEEDINGS 

\«-«    Problem*   Before   •  «. 

Bu1  ii'-\\  problems  are  to  be  solved.  The  things  of  tomorrow  are  not  those 
of   yesterday.      It    I  t    been    the    Idea    of    this    Congress    to    conquer    the 

present  <l;iy  difficulties  that  the  rich  and  magnificenl  Wesl  may  march  to 
a  yel  mightier  destiny,  it  is  our  West,  oui  home,  our  pride  and  our  children  s 
heritage,  it  devolves  upon  you  and  upon  me  to  do  our  part  in  making  it  yet 
more  glorious.  We  cannot  do  it  alone  by  resolutions,  by  speech -making,  or 
by  the  painting  of  pictures.  Definite  action,  hard  work  with  a  purpose, 
intelligent  planning  and  practical  every  daj  common  sense  in  meeting  con- 
ditions are  what  count.  Abuse  of  corporations,  radical  and  ill  digested  legis- 
lation, street  cornc  r  harangues  and  populistic  schemes  do  no1  avail.  To  accom- 
plish the  Hi  n  make  for  greatness  we  musl  be  broadminded,  fearless, 
ami  determined  to  win.  .Men  of  such  character  make  up  this  organization. 
The  whole  Nation  is  proud  of  whal  we  have  accomplished — and  it  looks  to  us 
to  suggest    ways   to  do  yet    more. 

We  represent  today  states  and  territories  that  are  rich  in  soil,  rich  in 
minerals,  with  rivers  of  power  and  ports  that  open  outward  to  the  world's 
markets.  Seventy  per  cent  of  the  Nation's  territory  Is  ours,  the  granary  of  the 
United  states,  the  bread  and  meat  baskets  of  the  civilized  world.  The  Euro- 
pean and  the  Asiatic  alike  eat  our  flour  and  steak,  use  our  machinery,  and 
wear  our  cotton  and  wool.  Across  the  'astern  border  of  this  empire  of  ours 
pours  an  unceasing  stream  of  ever  half  a  million  people  every  year — not 
such  immigration  as  pollutes  the  greal  Atlantic  feast  cities,  but  men  and 
women  who  are  the  flower  <d'  American  and  European  industry,  who  come  to 
labor  by  our  sides  and  want  to  see  the  West  blossom  into  a  great  garden. 
We  welcome  their  coming  tor  they  are  of  sterling  worth,  like  the  average  west- 
erner, and  ate  ready  to  give  and  to  take  as  the  seasons  come  and  go.  In 
nothing  is  the  West  more  fortunate  today  than  in  the  high  character  of  its 
Incoming  population.  We  welcome  everj  one — may*  they  all  live  ions  and 
prosper. 

Reclfl  mill  i<:n    Sen  ice. 

Our  greal  West,  the  Trans-Mississippi  West,  lias  grown  amazingly  In 
fertilitj    as   better  methods  of  agriculture  have  opened   larger  areas  and   have 

made  the  old  areas  produce  more  abundantly.  Then  the  Government  has  come 
in  with  its  wonderful  reclamation  service  and  has  awakened  the  sleeping 
desert,  '''he  work  as  a  whole  rivals  the  Panama  Canal  in  the  labor  and 
expense  involved.  The  employment  of  16,000  men  and  the  expenditure  of 
1,250,000  every  month  are  hot  incidents  in  the  service.  Already  the  canals 
completed  reach  a  total  of  1.815  miles-  as  far  as  from  San  FranciSCO  to 
Kansas  City.     Homes   have  been  made  for  ten   thousand   families,  where  before 

was    1. arren    land.       In    the    past     Ave    years    (33,000, i    has    been    spent,    and    the 

enterprises  already  planned  will  add  more-  than  a  hundred  millions  to  this 
sum.  Nor  is  this  money  spent  in  one  locality.  In  New  Mexico  one  of  the 
largest  dams  in  the  world  is  being  constructed.  In  California  and  Nevada 
great  reservoirs  and  irrigation  plants  are  being  built,  in  western  Kansas, 
tin-  beet  sugar  raisers  have  a  $250,000  plant  for  pumping  to  the  surface  the 
"underflow,"  found  a  few  feet  beneath  the  top  soil  of  the  Arkansas  River 
Valley    that    ditches    may   he    tilled    and    crops    made    certain.      On    seven    srea.t 

projects,   Involving  the  expenditure  of  $:,  i. and   the  reclamation   of  over 

million  acres,  the  benefit  is  directly  to  the  Northwest.  These  projects  lie 
in  North  and  South  Dakota,  Montana  and  Washington.  In  these  states  lands 
thai  have  he,  n  considered  as  worthless  except  for  the  coarsest  kind  of  grazing, 
are  being  transformed.  No  private  enterprise  could  undertake  the  vast  plans 
being    carried   on    bj    the   Govt  li    has    excavated    forty-seven    tunnels, 

with  a   total   length  of  eleven   miles,     a ng   its mplishments  are  :*  l   large 

structun  ,  675  headwi  k  Humes,  etc.;  it  has  built  i'.T.'i  miles  of  wagon  road  in 
in,  untainous  country,  has  tut  miles  of  telephone  lines,  has  manufactured  in 
iis  own  mill  ninety  thousand  barrels  of  cement,  ami  in  its  own  sawmills  has 
cut  over  thre<  million  feel  of  lumber,  ah  this  Indicates  a  work  of  the  first 
magnitude,     it   will   he  returned   many   fold   to   the   Nation. 

And  l  want  to  praise  this  branch  of  Government  enterprise;  it  is  a  marvel 
of  helpfulness  tor  which  we  should  aii  b<  thankful.  It  deserves  our  co-opera- 
tion- for  it  is  only  on  the  threshold  of  its  accomplishments.  The  time  will 
come  when  every  drop  of  water  that  falls  on  the  states  emhra.ee. i  in  the 
T:;n  Mississippi  States  will  he  mad.-  to  give  its  full  measur-3  of  production 
i,,  the  soil.  (Applause.)  When  that  time  comes  the  Trans-Mississippi  Com- 
mercial  Congress  will  represenl  millions  of  wealth  where  it  now  represents 
thousands. 

Along  with  tliis  utilization  of  the  rainfall  so  that  it  makes  the  soil  pro- 
duce up  ro  it-  limit  of  fertility  arc-  new  methods  of  agriculture,  encouraged 
.,,!, I  aided  by  the  Government  through  experiment  stations,  that  are  adding 
Immenselj  to  thi  ability  ol  the  western  farmer  who  produces  crops  regularly 
and    in   satisfactory  quantlt  rmer   has  a   greater  ability   iii 

crop  production   todaj    than   at    any   time   in    his   history   ami   the   Income   of  his 


TRANS-MISSISSIPPI    COMMERCIAL    CONGRESS  31 

farm  is  increasing-  steadily.  In  fact  there  is  throughout  the  Trans-Mississippi 
country  one  grand  forward  march  of  production  that  is  the  marvel  of  the 
world  and  reflects  a  magnificent  tribute  upon  the  men  and  women  who  dwell 
on  the  fertile  acres  that  we   call   home.      (Applause.) 

Homestead  Lands. 

L,et  us  hope  that  settlement  of  the  unoccupied  lands  will  be  encouraged 
by  the  Government  in  sensible  ways.  The  idea  prevailing  in  early  days  of 
the  Republic,  that  the  public  domain  should  be  used  as  a  revenue  producer, 
abandoned  in  favor  of  the  better  method  of  using  the  same  for  settlement, 
should  not  be  revived.  The  West  should  be  settled  up.  The  quicker  the 
public  domain  passes  into  private  ownership,  the  better  it  will  be  for  us. 
Dry  farming  homesteads  should  be  enlarged  to  at  least  320  or  640  acres.  A 
larger  homestead  should  be  given  for  dry  farming  and  a  smaller  one  to  the 
irrigated  districts.  Loyal  and  earnest  co-operation  is  needed  between  the 
National  Reclamation  service  and  the  state  governments,  that  are  trying  to 
reclaim  lands  under  the  Carey  Act.  and  no  conflicts  should  occur  or  jealousies 
exist.  Title  for  government  land  under  Government  irrigation  projects  should 
be  granted  more  quickly  than  they  are  at  present,  and,  if  necessary,  our 
national  laws  should  be  changed  so  as  to  bring  this  about.  Title  should  follow 
more  as  a  result  of  cultivation  and  use  than  of  length  of  time  necessary  for 
the  settler  to  live  upon  the  government  lands,  before  title  is  granted.  We 
see  the  importance  and  necessity  of  this  exemplified  every  day  by  the  success 
with   which    settlers   meet   in    taking  up   lands   under   Carey   Act   projects. 

Forest  Reserves. 

It  is  pleasing  to  note  that  during  the  past  year  a  great  impetus  has 
been  given  to  the  increase  of  our  forest  reserves  and  the  conservation  of  our 
natural  resources.  The  magnificent  work  of  President  Roosevelt  in  starting 
a  movement  that  shall  not  only  increase  the  forests  of  the  "West,  but  shall 
preserve  the  natural  wealth  already  possessed,  should  have  the  hearty  com- 
mendation of  every  Western  citizen.  (Applause.)  It  means  great  things  for 
our  future,  and  the  members  of  this  Congress  know  better  than  any  one  else 
how  essential  is  such  an  undertaking.  It  is  a  part  of  a  great  scheme  that 
when  worked  out  will  transform  the  Trans-Mississippi  section  into  a  marvelous 
picture  of  prosperity. 

Mining. 

But  agriculture  is  not  the  only  resource  of  the  states  between  the  Pacific 
Ocean  and  the  Mississippi  River.  The  mining  industry  of  the  mountain  com- 
monwealths has  experienced  a  development  as  marked  as  that  of  the  farming 
communities.  New  machinery  and  new  methods  have  revolutionized  the 
mines.  Every  shaft  is  worked  in  a  more  systematic  and  pvofltable  manner 
than   at   any   time   since   the   '49ers   crossed  the   backbone   of   the   continent. 

Transportation  Is  Chief  Problem. 

Out  of  this  remarkable  advancement  of  the  Trans-Mississippi  country 
comes  one  great  problem  that  overshadows  all  others  now  before  us.  Impor- 
tant as  are  the  various  interests  which  we  are  trying  to  build  up.  and  close 
as  are  they  to  our  national  life,  the  present  day  question  before  the  Trans- 
Mississippi  country  is  that  of  transportation  for  its  constantly  rising  abun- 
dance of  production.  (Applause.)  The  one  thing  that  the  farmer  and  the 
miner  want  to  know  today  is  how  to  get  the  material  they  produce  most 
cheaply  and  most  directly  to  a  world  market.  Only  two  methods  are  open, 
by  river  transportation  and  by  railway.  There  are  no  vast  inland  seas,  no 
great  bays  or  lakes  to  furnish  a  passage  for  all  this  wealth  of  grain  and 
minerals.  There  are  rivers  that  flow  for  hundreds  of  miles,  but  offer  only  an 
indifferent  method  of  transportation.  It  is  pleasing  to  see  that  the  govern- 
ment is  taking  an  interest  in  the  possibilities  of  this  form  of  transportation 
and  that  the  waterways  are  receiving  attention.  It  has  been  one  of  the  efforts 
of  this  Congress  to  urge  and  secure  assistance  along  this  line.  The  Govern- 
ment owes  it  to  the  people  who  occupy  these  fertile  acres  to  give  every 
possible  aid  in  deepening  and  broadening  the  rivers  that  can  carry  our 
products  to  deeD  waters.  It  owes  to  these  states  and  territories  a  more 
determined  effort  than  ever  before  to  improve  the  Western  harbors  to  which 
may  be  shipped  Western  products.  The  great  granary  and  mineral  territory 
of  the  United  States  is  going  to  have  its  rights  in  waterway  improvement, 
or  know  the  reason   why. 

Waterways. 

In  making  these  improvements  we  of  the  Trans-Mississippi  country  are 
most  interested  in  those  streams  and  harbors  that  touch  our  own  states.  We 
are  particularly  desirous  that  the  navigation  of  the  Missouri  and  lower 
Arkansas  rivers  be  improved  until  there  shall  be  a  worthy  advance  to  the 
transportation  of  our  Western  products.  Along  these  streams  are  growing 
cities    and    improved    farms,    and    the    Government    owes    it    to    the    men    who 


32  REPORT    OF    PROCEEDINGS 

are  making  a  prosperous  country  of  what  was  once  open  plain  that  they 
l>e  given   every  possible  encouragement. 

However,  only  a  comparatively  small  portion  of  the  Trans-Mississippi 
country  can  be  reached  by  navigable  streams.  We  must  depend  upon  the 
iron  rail  as  a  highway  to  market  for  the  greater  portion  of  our  products. 
The  railroads  came  into  the  Western  States  and  found  them  a  trackless 
desert.  Today  the  most  splendid  limited  trains  in  the  world  flash  across 
well-improved  and  wonderfully  developed  areas.  Transcontinental  lines  con- 
nect the  Pacific  Coast  with  the  Atlantic  seaboard.  North  and  south  lines 
reach  from  the  Dakotas  town  to  the  Gulf.  Branch  lines  tap  the  interior  and 
haul  away  the  grain  from  the  lonely  prairie  elevator.  The  railroads  have 
transformed  the  Trans-Mississippi  country.  But  every  year  at  harvest  time 
we  hear  the  recurring  cry  of  too  few  cars  and  too  few  engines.  The  prairie 
elevator  is  filled  to  the  roof  day  after  day,  with  no  cars  ready  to  haul  away  the 
grain.  New  towns  spring  up  and  are  unable  to  secure  freight  because  of 
the  congestion  at  central  points.  Down  in  the  corn-raising  districts  this  fall 
you  will  see  hundreds  of  thousands  of  bushels  of  corn  heaped  on  the  open 
ground  because  transportation  is  lacking.  The  country  has  developed  faster 
than    railroad   building   lias   gone   on. 

Increase  in  Production. 

Not  until  we  study  the  statistics  of  the  Trans-Mississippi  country  do  we 
realize  the  importance  of  this  need.  When  the  Commercial  Congress  was 
organized  there  were  but  16,000,000  people  here,  today  there  are  25.000.000. 
The  value  of  farm  propertv  was  given  bv  the  government  census  as  $2,137- 
000.000;  today  it  is  $19, S98. 000,000.  The  production  of  the  farms  of  the  United 
States  this  year  is  estimated  at  $7,500,000,000,  of  whieli  fully  50  per  cent 
comes  from  the  Trans-Mississippi  country,  an  increase  of  100  per  cent  in 
the  past  fifteen  years.  The  mining  industry  lias  increased  in  even  greater 
proportion.  While  these  tremendous  growths  have  been  taking  place  in  the 
value  and  production  of  the  Trans-Mississippi  territory,  the  transportation 
facilities  have  not  increased  in  any  such  measure.  In  1888  the  railroad 
mileage  was  68,057  miles.  The  statistics  for  last  year  —  which  are  the  latest 
available  —  give  to  this  territory  102,286  miles.  This  increase  of  less  than 
60  per  cent  is  far  below  the  needs  of  the  richly  productive  area  that  these 
lines  serve.  It  is  evident  to  the  student  of  commercial  affairs  that  we  need 
tens  of  thousands  of  miles  of  new  railway  in  order  to  handle  properly  the 
tremendous   and    growing   output   of   our    farm    lauds    and    mines.      (Applause.) 

Railroad  Building  <<•  it.-  Encouraged. 

Here  and  there  a  commonwealth  has  a  mistaken  idea  of  its  own  needs 
and  attacks  the  railroad  as  an  enemy,  when  it  should  have  considered  it  an 
associate  in  its  development.  It  is  a  poor  policy  on  the  part  of  individuals 
or  of  a  community  to  hinder  those  things  that  make  for  presenl  day  progress. 
Thousands  of  communities  today  would  have  railroads  if  the  builders  of  great 
lines  were  not  afraid  of  what  may  come  in  the  way  of  hostile  legislation. 
Hundreds  of  communities  need  :i  railway  station  jn  order  to  grow  as  they 
should.  The  Trans-Mississippi  country  oughl  to  have  thousands  of  miles 
of  new  railway  in  the  nexl  year,  and  the  men  who  are  most  familiar  with 
its  needs  and  opportunities  realize  this  most  completely.  It  makes  no  dif- 
ference whether  these  new  lines  art  buiH  bj  old  established  railway  corpora- 
tions or  by  new  ones.  The  railroad  today  Is  run  on  principles  of  straight- 
forward business  and  all  must  come  Undei  Ihe  same  regulation.  (Applause.) 
But  the  thing  is  thai  more  lines  should  be  built,  more  country  should  be 
opened,  more  facilities  should  he  given  to  sections  thai  have  thus  far  ex- 
ceeded the  ability  of  transportation  lines  to  i ommodate  their  needs.  It  would 

be  a  wise  thing  tor  everj  membei  oi  the  Trans-Mississippi  Commercial  Con- 
gress,  and  foi  everj  business  man  in  ihe  territory  we  represent,  to^encourage 
the  building  of  these  needed  lines  of  transportation  that  the  splendid  civiliza- 
tion  of  our    Western    States    m:i.\    not    be    hindered    in    its   progress. 

Oriental  Trade, 

Another  great  Influence  thai  la  working  toward  the  advancement  of  the 
state.-:  we  reprt  en1  Is  the  growing  Improvement  in  oriental  trade,  a  vast 
portion  of  which  passes  through  the  portals  of  the  Golden  Gate.  \Vhen  we 
recall   that   the  export    trade   to   Asia    twenty  years  ago   was  only   $17,325,000, 

and  thai   now  it  has  become  $185,504, we  n  nondous  importance 

of  this  portion  of  our  national  commercial  life.     \\  tth  a  corresponding  increase 

we    shall    have    in    less    than    a    decade    $1, 1    of    exports    shipped    from 

the    Pacific    Coast    to    Asia.      This    one    feature    means    tremendous    things    to    San 

Francisco  and   to  all    the  1  h    means   that    there  are  to  be  on   the 

sunset   side  of  the  Nation,   magnlflcenl   and   mlghtj    ports  thai    shall   rival   th<* 
t<    1    In    the    world. 


TRANS-MISSISSIPPI    COMMERCIAL    CONGRESS  33 

Alaska  a  Territory. 

Nor  is  all  this  business  confined  to  the  states.  Alaska  is  coming  prom- 
inently to  the  fore  as  a  great  producer  of  wealth,  expanding  steadily  in  its 
importance  as  a  factor  in  the  Nation's  commercial  life.  I  believe  the  time 
has  come  when  Alaska  should  be  given  a  full  territorial  form  of  government 
with  such  self  management  as  is  possible.  It  has  men  of  brains,  commerce 
that  runs  into  marvelous  figures  —  let  us  take  it  into  the  circle  of  our  Gov- 
ernment and  allow  it  a  voice  in  the  affairs  of  the  Nation.  (Applause.)  There 
is    neither   justice    nor    wisdom    in    refusing   to   do    this. 

Hope  for  Future. 

With  these  great  problems  and  many  others  before  us,  we  meet  here 
the  representatives  of  nineteen  states  and  two  territories — which  ought  to  be 
made  into  two  more  states  at  the  next  session  of  Congress  by  all  rights  of 
good  sense  and  intelligent  legislation  —  with  Alaska  and  the  Hawaiian  Islands 
joined,  to  advance  our  business  interests.  We  are  fortunate  in  having  such 
a  splendid  gathering  of  business  men  whose  lives  and  efforts  speak  for  in- 
telligent progress,  and  doubly  fortunate  in  having  such  a  magnificent  city 
as  our  host.  Though  the  second  time  we  have  met  here,  and  many  of  us  have 
known  the  city  long,  never  has  there  been  so  splendid  an  exhibition  of 
advancement  and  determination  as  is  evidenced  by  the  San  Francisco  of 
today.  The  Trans-Mississippi  Commercial  Congress  will  soon  close  its  first 
two  decades.  It  has  a  splendid  record  of  things  done,  of  things 
attempted,  of  high-minded  effort,  of  abundant  hospitality,  and  of  commend- 
able American  spirit.  Let  us  hope  that  coming  years  will  see  a  continuation 
of  the  same  united  effort  in  the  interests  of  the  business  development  of  that 
portion  of  the  United  States  we  call  our  home.  Upon  the  West's  progress 
depends  the  progress  of  the  Nation  and  its  interests  deserve  our  heartiest  good 
will  and  the  sacrifice  of  our  time  and  our  money.  Because  its  members  believe 
in  this  idea  the  Trans-Mississippi  Commercial  Congress  is  the  greatest  force 
for   business   advancement  existing   in  America  today.      (Prolonged   Applause.) 

By   Chairman    Briggs: 

I  would  like  to  make  an  announcement.  This  afternoon  we  will  hear 
from  President  Wheeler  of  the  University  of  California,  from  the  Hon. 
John  Barrett,  and  from  Hon.  W.  R.  Wheeler,  assistant  secretary  of  the 
Department  of  Commerce  and  Labor,  who  brings  a  message  direct  from 
President  Roosevelt.  (Applause.)  I  hope  this  will  be  communicated  to  all 
with  whom  you  come  in  contact,  so  that  this  hall  may  be  filled.  I  think 
the  adjournment  should  be  taken  to  two  o'clock. 

By   Secretary    Francis: 

I  have  received  the  following  communication: 

FROM  THE  MERCHANTS  EXCHANGE. 

The  directors  and  members  of  the  Merchants  Exchange  extend  to  the 
officers  and  delegates  of  the  Trans-Mississippi  Congress  the  courtesies  and 
privileges  of  the  floor  of  the  Merchants  Exchange  during  your  stay  in  San 
Francisco,  and  your  badges  wi-11  be  sufficient  for  admittance  thereto. 

Trusting  that,  we  may  have  the  pleasure  of  seeing  you  on  our  floor,  and 
wishing  you  a  very  successful  session  in  this  city,  I  beg  to  remain, 

Yours  verv  respectfully. 

JAMES    ROLPH,    JR., 

President. 

By  Chairman   Briggs: 

President  Case,  I  now  return  to  you  the  gavel  which  you  relinquished 
temporarily  to  me. 

« 

By  President  Case: 

Mr.  Vice-Chairman,  I  hope  that  I  can  use  it  to  as  good  advantage  as  do 
you.  I  will,  however,  use  my  best  efforts.  If  I  fail  I  will  call  upon  you  to 
take  it  back. 

An  adjournment  was  here  taken  until  2  o'clock  in  the  afternoon. 


SECOND  SESSION 


The  second  session  of  the  Congress  was  called  to  order  at  2:30  o'clock 
p.  m.  by  Hugh  Craig,  President  of  the  Ninth  Session  of  the  Congress. 

The  Secretary  called  the  roll  of  states  and  territories,  and  the  names 
of  those  elected  for  vice-presidents  and  the  various  committees,  as  finally 
completed,  are  as  follows: 

\  Ice-Presidents. 

Alaska— Hon.    \v.    B     Hoggatt,   Juneau. 

Colorado — James    M.    Peabody,  Canon   City. 

Hawaii — James  T.  Morgan,   Honolul 

.Missouri-   Ed.    I..    Scarrett,    Kansas   City. 

Kansas— J.    W.   Creech,    Herington. 

Iowa-    Levi    Baker,   Shenandoah. 

Oklahoma — C.    K.    Luce,    Woodward. 

Arkansas — C.    R.    Breckenrldge,  .Fori    Smith. 

Nebraska      i  [enrj    T.    i  llarke,    <  >ma 

Utah— John    Henrj    Smith,   Salt    Lake  City. 

North    Dakota — If.    V.    Arnold,    Larimore. 

Ti  xas  -c.   C.   Slaughter,    I  'alias. 

New    Mexico     Hon.    Geo.    Curry,    Santa    Fe. 

Nevada — J,    B.    Waterhouse,    Reno. 

California — A.   L.    I 'anew.   Sacramento. 

Minnesota — Tains    Bixby,    sr.     Paul. 

Oregon — A.  H.    Devers,    Portia 

South   Dakota      Dr.    R.    I,.   Smith,    Ree    Heights. 

Washington — .).   \v.    Howell,  Seattle. 

Arizona — W.    T.    I-'.    Donald,    Phoenix. 

Idaho — Frank    R,   Gooding,    Boise. 

Montana — D.   R.    Peeler,   Kalispell. 

Wyoming — W.    S.    Collins,    Basin. 

Louisiana — W.    W.    Galliard,    Donaldsonville. 

Philippines — John  Gibson,   .Manila. 

U.   C.   T. — Robert   Starr. 

T.  P.  A. — Qrrin  S.  Henderson. 

I Sxecul  i\  <■  <  lommlttee. 

Alaska — B.   M.    Behrends,   Juneau;   J.    H.   Tarn,    Nome. 

Colorado — Arthur    F.    Francis,    Cripple    Creek. 

I  la  waii  —Walter    F.    F:  ear,    I  lonolulu. 

.\i  Issouri-    Geo.    J.    Ta  nsey,    St.    Louis. 

Kansas — John    Dudley,     Kansas    City. 

Oklahoma — J.   J.   Gerlach    and    D.    P.    Marum,    Woodward. 

l.uva — Robt.    Hunter,  Sioux  City. 

Arkansas     Geo.  Sengel,   Fort   Smith. 

Nebraska      F.    W.    Brown,   Lincoln. 

Utah — L.  W.  Shurtllff,  Ogden. 

North    Dakota— N.  <;.    Larimore,    Larimore. 

Texas     W.    W.  Turney,    El    P 

New    Mexico     L.    Bradford    Prince,    Si  nta    Fe. 

Nevada-    <  »sca  r   J.    Smil  h,    Reno. 

i  :a  lifornla     O.    1 1.    Miller,    Saci  amento. 

Minnesota      Hubert    Eva,    Duluth. 

i  fregon      Petei     Loggie,    North    Bend. 

Soul  h    I  'a  kota     J.    a.    i .  ..ii\    Fa  lis. 

Washington     Geo.    C.    Congdon,    Seattle. 

Wyoming      Ell   Crumrlne,  Laramie. 

Arizona    -A.   M.  <  !ona  rd,   Phoenix. 

[daho     Marcus   A.   Mea  n       Li  wisl  on. 

Montana     J.    H.    Strain,    Great     Falls. 

Loi  W.   (  '.    i  tart,    N<  u    i  irleans. 

Philippines      Daniel    O'Connor,    M,    I ..    McCollough,    Manila     p    l 

K.    C.    T. — M.    Allison,    T. 

T.    P.    A.     i  i  trlfflth,    I  »i  i 

Permanent   Organisation. 

Alaska      \V.     A.    McGinn,     Falrbai 

( lolorado-   Wm.    1 1.     Dickson,    Denver. 

I  la  waii     J.    Hutchlns,    I  [onolulu. 

Kan.-. r        Fred     I  I      Qull  Una. 

Missouri      Fred  W.  i 


TRANS-MISSISSIPPI    COMMERCIAL    CONGRESS  35 

Oklahoma — D.   P.   Marura,   Woodward. 

Iowa — Levi   Baker,   Shenandoah. 

Nebraska — W.  J.   Evans,  Ogalala. 

Utah — James   D.    Murdock. 

Texas — Ed.    F.    Harris,    Galveston. 

Nevada — Alfred  Chartz,   Carson   City. 

California — Arthur   R.    Briggs,    San    Francisco. 

Montana — J.    H.    Strain,    Great   Falls. 

Arizona — W.    T.    F.    Donald,    Phoenix. 

Oregon — H.    E.    Albert. 

Louisiana — W.   O.  Hart,  Wm.   W.   Galliard. 

Philippines — Max    L.    McCollough,    Manila. 

U.    C.    T. — C.    A.    Chintsman. 

T.    P.   A. — J.    D.    Ward. 

Committee  on  Resolutions. 

Alaska — John   J.  Boyce,   Juneau:   Thos.   R.  Lyons,   Juneau. 

Colorado — James   F.   Callbreath   Jr.,    Denver:    Aaron    Gove,    Denver. 

Hawaii — J.    T.    Morgan,    Honolulu;    L.    E.    Pinkham,    Honolulu. 

Kansas — C.  M.  Harger,  Abilene;  John  Dudley,  Kansas  City. 

Oklahoma— D.   P.  Hall,   Muskogee;   A.   C.  Trumbo,   Muskogee. 

Iowa — Victor  E.  Bender,  Council  Bluffs;  Wm.  Sonna,  Harlan. 

Nebraska — W.    G.    Evans,    Ogalala. 

Utah — George  M.   Cannon;   Richanl    W.    Young. 

Missouri — Edward   L.    Scarrett;    Walter   N.    Moore. 

Texas — Ed.    F.   Harris;    J.    H.    Rothwell. 

Nevada — J.    F.   Waterhouse. 

California — Leroy  A.  Wright,   San  Diego;  Geo.  C.  Pardee,  Oakland. 

Arizona — A.   M.   Conard,   Phoenix;    W.   T.    F.   Donald,   Phoenix. 

Oklahoma — D.  P.  Hall,  Muskogee;  D.  P.  Maruni,   Woodward. 

Oregon — E.    E.    Benedict;    Peter    Loggie. 

Louisiana — W.  O.  Hart;  W.  W.  Galliard. 

Philippines — Max    L.    McCollough,    Manila. 

U.    C.    T. — H.    L.    Judell;    Jack    Baumgartner. 

T.   P.    A. — Emmett   Dunn;    S.    T.    Breyer. 

When  the  United  Commercial  Travelers  and  the  Travelers'  Protective 
Association  were  called  upon,  they  asked  leave,  through  Mr.  H.  L.  Judell, 
to  act  jointly  in  the  appointment  of  committees,  which  permission  was 
unanimously  granted. 

By    Secretary    Francis: 

I  am  requested  to  announce  to  the  delegates  present  that  the  California 
Club,  a  ladies'  club  of  this  city,  has  invited  the  visiting  members  to  attend 
the  regular  meeting  of  that  club  this  afternoon  at  1750  Clay  Street,  near 
Van  Ness  Avenue. 

I  am  further  requested  to  state  by  Mr.  Briggs,  that  inasmuch  as  there 
is  an  error  in  the  California  delegation  as  reported,  in  its  list  of  committees, 
he  does  not  desire  to  assume  the  responsibility  of  determining  which  one 
of  the  two  members  named  for  the  Committee  on  Permanent  Organization 
selected,  shall  remain  as  the  member  of  that  committee  for  California,  and 
that  he  leaves  to  the  delegation  to  select. 

By  Arthur  R.   Briggs: 

I  desire  to  add  to  what  the  Secretary  has  said  that  it  is  my  error  that 
there  are  two  names  upon  that  committee  from  California.  I  stated  at  the 
meeting  at  which  the  committees  were  selected  that  we  were  entitled  to  two 
on  Permanent  Organization  and  two  were  named,  myself  and  Mr.  Stewart. 
I  now  turn  it  back  to  the  delegation  to  decide  which  one  shall  remain. 

The  California  delegation  thereupon,  in  open  convention,  considered  the 
matter,  and,  upon  motion,  which  unanimously  carried,  Mr.  Arthur  R.  Briggs 
was  declared  the  unanimous  choice  of  the  California  delegation  as  its  com- 
mitteeman on  Permanent  Organization. 


36  REPORT    OF    PROCEEDINGS 

By   Secretary   Francis: 

I  state  to  the  convention  at  large  that  it  has  been  announced  by  the 
California  delegation  that  Mr.  Uriggs  is  the  choice  of  the  delegation  for 
their  member  of  the  Committee  on  Permanent  Organization.  These  com- 
mittees, gentlemen,  and  particularly  the  Committee  on  Resolutions,  must 
organize  for  business.  A  room  has  been  provided  in  the  front  of  the  hall 
for  the  meetings.  If  that  room  is  not  satisfactory  to  them,  if  they  will  give 
notice  to  the  Secretary,  other  quarters  will  be  provided.  There  will  be  a 
stenographer  from  the  Secretary's  force  at  the  disposal  of  the  committee, 
and  the  office  of  the  Secretary  in  the  front  part  of  the  building  is  for  the 
present  designated  also  for  the  committees'   use. 

PRESIDENT  J.    B.   CASE    IN   THE   CHAIR. 

By   President   Case: 

Members  of  the  Trans-Mississippi  Commercial  Congress,  Ladies  and 
Gentlemen:  We  have  in  store  for  this  afternoon  what  I  am  sure  you  will 
all  agree  with  me  is  a  treat.  President  Roosevelt,  in  his  message  to  Congress 
two  years  ago,  made  this  statement,  that  the  Trans-Mississippi  Commercial 
Congress  represented  the  crystallized  commercial  and  business  sentiment  of 
the  entire  West.  We  have  with  us  this  afternoon  Honorable  W.  R.  Wheeler, 
one  of  the  representatives  of  the  Government,  in  the  Department  of  Com- 
merce and  Labor,  who  will  represent  President  Roosevelt  and  who  will 
now  address  you.  It  gives  me  great  pleasure  to  introduce  to  you  Honorable 
William  R.  Wheeler.      (Applause.) 

PERSONAL   MESSAGE  TO  THE  CONGRESS  PROM   PRESIDENT  ROOSEVELT. 

II y  Hon.  Wm.  It.  Wheeler,  Ax.st.  S «■<•.> .  Dept.  of  Commerce  and  Labors 

Mr.  President,  Delegates  to  the  Trans-Mississippi  Commercial  Congress, 
Ladies  and  Gentlemen:  it  is  Indeed  a  pleasure  as  well  as  an  lienor  to  be  af- 
forded this  opportunity,  in  my  home  city  and  in  my  native  State,  to  address 
so   earnest  a   body    of   men,    men    from    the    West,    men    who    do    things. 

The  President,  In  delegating  me  to  be  his  representative,  did  so.  not  with 
a  view  thai  I  would  add  anything  of  material  moment  to  tin  discussion.  In 
fact,  lie  took  me  from  my  office  on  very,  very  short  notice,  ii  was  more  as 
an  earnest  of  the  Interest  which  he  feels  in  this  great  West  of  ours  that  led 
him  to  the  view  that  he  should  have  al  this  Congress  a  personal  n  presentative, 

l  think  all  of  yon  know  thai  the  Presidenl  is  himself  a  Westerner  by 
adoption.  He  is  doubly  so;  he  first  adopted  the  West,  and  then  the  West 
adopted  him. 

I  want  to  congratulate  you,  Mr.  President,  and  the  Trans-Mississippi 
Commercial  Congress,  upon  the  Interest  manifested  In  this  Congress  and  its 
work.  1  want  to  congratulate  San  Francisco  upon  having  the  opportunity 
of  bringing  within  its  gates  such  a  distinguished  assemblage  as  is  this. 

i  )i  gani/.at  ions  for  Improvemenl  are  always  helpful;  moreover,  they  arc  the 
spirit  of  the  West.  The  village  organizes  its  Ton  Thousand  Club,  the  town 
organizes  its  Kilty  Thousand  Club,  and  the  citj  organizes  its  rive  Hundred 
Thousand  or  its  Million  Club,  all  with  a  view  to  promoting  the  town  or  city 
and    bettering  it. 

These  "uoi  together  associations,"  as  we  might  term  them,  and  as  I 
believe  thej  are  often  termed,  are  In  line  with  progress  and  prosperity. 
This  l  take  It,  Is  a  gigantic  "gel  together  association."  n  simply  differs 
from  the  others  In  the  fad  thai   11   lakes  In  a  large  geographic  area,     it   is  well 

tJial      the     world     should     know     what      the     West     contains,     and     w  1 1  a  I      lie     West's 
ambitions    are. 

I    ,|j,|    n01     come    prepared     to    make    a  u  y    extended    address    to    you,    and    I    do 

h,,i     therefore,    purpose    Inflicting    upon    you    extemporaneous    remarks    made. 
perhaps,    from     the    thoughl     of    thi     moment,    without     the    necessary    study 

which   should   always   precede   the  dell  of  anj    address   to  such   a    ly 

as  is  this.       I  am  come,  as  l   ha    i  -impi>   as  a  manifestation,  and  I  am 

here  as  a  manifestation  of  the  President's  g I  will  and  of  the  heartj    Interest 

which   he  takes   In   the  work   which   you  are  doing.      (Applause.) 

is.    perhaps,    Bubject,    (and    one    only)    thai    l    ran    touch    upon, 

appropriate   to   this   occasion,   and    this   Is   the  BUbjecl    of  ral When 

in    Albuquerque,   a    tew   days   ago,   attending    thai    map.  irrigation   Con- 

ge, .  i.|   there,   the  thought   came   to  me   how   Interwoven    Is   Irrigation   with 


1.      WM.    R.    WHEELER, 
isst.   Seey.  Dent.   Commerce  ami   Labor. 


THEODORE      ROOSEVELT, 

President    United    States. 


TRANS-MISSISSIPPI    COMMERCIAL    CONGRESS  37 

immigration,  not  only  by  the  alliterativeness  of  the  words  but  by  reason 
of  the  fact  that  irrigation  is  a  sure  forerunner  of  immigration.  I  know  the 
difficulties  under  which  the  Pacific  Coast,  and  in  fact,  the  entire  country 
represented  by  the  delegates  here  assembled  has  been,  for  lack  of  a  rough 
laborer,  you  might  call  it,  a  hewer  of  wood  and  a  drawer  of  water  a  man  to 
pioneer  the  way  for  industries  and  for  cultivation.  There  has  up'  to  nearly 
a  year  ago,  been  a  steadily  increasing  volume  of  immigration  to  the  Atlantic 
Seaboard  cities.  Of  this  vast  wave  of  immigration  which  rolls  upon  the 
Atlantic  coast,  by  reason  of  the  very  distance  at  which  we  are  from  that 
coast   we    could   receive,    at   the   best,    but   a   very   filmy    spray 

The  Department  of  Commerce  and  Labor,  in  the  administration  of  which 
I  have  the  honor  to  assist  the  able  secretary,  Mr.  Straus,  is  doing,  in  its  way. 
what  it  can  to  better  that  condition.  Recognizing  the  desirability  of  a 
better  distribution  of  immigrants,  recognizing  the  desire,  not  alone  from  the 
standpoint  of  the  needs  of  the  Western  people,  but  also  from  the  standpoint 
of  the  betterment  of  the  immigrant  himself  by  causing  him  to  avoi.i  the 
congestion  in  the  great  cities  of  the  Atlantic  Seaboard,  the  Department  has 
been  exerting  itself  in  that  direction. 

The  last  Congress  passed  a  bill  creating  a  Division  of  Information  within 
the  Bureau  of  Immigration  and  Naturalization.  This  Division  of  Information 
is,  after  all,  what  we  might  call  a  national  intelligence  office.  We  have 
established  in  New  York,  Boston,  Baltimore  and  Chicago,  offices  where  tlie 
alien  applying  for  work  is  listed  and  put  in  communication  with  people 
who  are  in  need  of  such  work  as  he  can  perform.  And  I  am  very  glad  to 
say  that,  while  the  work  is  yet  very  young,  the  progress  that  has  been  made 
is  most  gratifying.  The  Division  has,  by  postal  cards  with  return  coupons, 
advised  the  farmers  of  the  rural  free  delivery  routes  east  of  the  Mississippi 
of  the  existence  of  this  Division,  and  the  returns,  the  applications  that  are 
coming  in,  are  most  gratifying  in  number.  It  only  remains  to  get  the  office 
a  little  further  under  way,  the  machinery  a  little  more  firmly  established, 
before  similar  notification  will  be  sent  to  the  west  of  the  Mississippi.  This, 
however,  is  a  tentative  arrangement  for  bringing  immigration  to  the  West, 
to  the  far  West,  as  we  call  the  territory  represented  by  this  body. 

There  is  not  far  off  an  avenue  for  the  transportation  of  desirable  European 
immigration,  and  that  is  in  the  Panama  Canal.  Today  the  question  with  the 
immigrant  with  regard  to  coming  to  California,  is,  first,  the  expense  of  the 
journey,  and  second,  the  complexity  of  the  journey.  Both  of  these  will  be 
removed  with  the  completion  of  this  canal,  and  with  the  establishment,  as 
will  surely  follow,  of  steamship  lines  direct  from  the  great  European  ports 
of  immigration  to  the  Pacific  Coast  gateways. 

I  took  occasion  a  short  time  ago  to  ascertain  the  difference  in  distance 
between  Naples  and  New  York,  and  Naples  and  San  Francisco,  via  Panama. 
I  found  that  there  was  about  double  the  distance  to  San  Francisco,  possibly 
a  little  more.  But  that  of  itself  is  no  deterrent.  The  immigrant  minds  not 
the  length  of  the  journey.  When  he  can  get  aboard  of  the  steamer  at  Naples 
and  be  landed  at  San  Diego,  or  at  San  Francisco,  or  at  Portland,  or  at  Seattle, 
as  the  case  may  be,  without  transfer  and  for  approximately  the  same  amount 
of  money  for  which  he  would  be  landed  at  New  York,  he  will  be  ready  to  pay 
the  extra  charge  for  transportation  to  the  land  which  offers  him  the  greatest 
inducements,  and  that,  undoubtedly,  generally,  is  the  Pacific  Coast.  This  will 
work  to  the  advantage  of  the  Nation  in  two  ways.  It  will  supply  you  with 
what.  I  take  it,  is  much  needed  labor;  and  it  will  relieve  the  congestion  which 
is  the  problem  today  confronting  the  immigration  authorities  on  the  Atlantic 
coast. 

In  closing,  I  'want  to  say  to  you  that  the  canal  is  not  far  off,  it  is  com- 
paratively near  at  hand.  It  seems  to  me  it  is  time  that  you  were  thinking 
of  these  possibilities,  which  I  have  no  doubt  have  occurred  to  you,  but  which 
I  merely  remind  you  of  now.  There  is  a  chance  and  a  possibility  in  fact,  a 
possibility  that  makes  it  amount  to  a  certainty,  that  this  same  flow  of 
European  immigration  will  be  to  a  very  large  extent  diverted  to  the  Pacific 
coast  cities  in  the  not  far  distant  future.  So  I  say  that  it  is  time  that  we 
prepared  the  way. 

Gentlemen,  I  am  glad  of  this  opportunity  to  address  you.  There  are 
others  to  follow  me  who  can  give  you,  no  doubt,  far  more  of  interest  in  their 
addresses.  But  there  are  none  to  follow  me  who  can  from  the  heart  feel 
the  gratification  that  I  feel  in  having  this  opportunity  to  meet  my  old  friends 
and  the  people  of  the  Pacific  Coast  whom  I  so  dearly  love. 

I    thank    you.       (Applause.) 

By  President  Case: 

Under  the  rules  of  the  Congress,  there  is  now  given  an  opportunity  for 
the  members  and  delegates  to  ask  questions.  If  anyone  desires  to  ask  a 
question  of  Mr.  Wheeler,  I  presume  that  he  will  be  very  glad  to  answer  them. 


38  REPORT    OF    PROCEEDINGS 

Hearing  none,  gentlemen,  I  now  have  the  honor  and  the  pleasure  to 
introduce  to  the  members  of  this  Congress,  or,  I  should  rather  say,  present 
to  them — I  think  that  would  sound  better — a  member  and  a  distinguished 
member  of  the  Trans-Mississippi  Commercial  Congress,  a  gentleman  who 
has  distinction  as  Director  of  the  International  Bureau  of  American  Re- 
publics, representing  twenty-one  American  Republics;  a  gentleman  who  has 
been  Minister  to  three  of  the  South  American  Republics,  and  who  has 
taken  an  interest  in  this  Congress,  has  been  present  at  nearly  every  meeting 
for  at  least  ten  years,  and  has  been  our  vice-president,  from  the  state  of 
Oregon,  one  whom  you  know  and  have  heard  and  are  always  glad  to  hear — 
the  nation  is  glad  to  hear  him.  I  have  the  pleasure  of  introducing  to  you 
Honorable  John  Barrett.     (Applause.) 

\ili!rrx-    of   Hon.   John    Barrett,    Director    General    of    the    International    Bureau 

of   the    American    Benuhlles,    Acting    as    Knvoy    F.xt  raordinnry    anil 

Minister   Plenipotentiary   to   deliver   to   the   Congress   the 

ineHsanc    from    Twenty    Latin    Republic*, 

By   Mr.    Barrett,    Washington.    I>.    C.I 

President  Case,  Senator  Perkins,  Delegates,  Ladies  and  Gentlemen:  While 
I  am  not  as  good  looking  as  Assistant  Secretary  Wheeler,  nor  have  I  quite  the 
honor  of  being  a  full  resident  of  California,  I  am  somewhat  near  Wheeler  in 
the  respect  that,  I  hope,  when  he  gets  a  little  more  l>ald,  I  will  be  as  good 
looking  as  he.  I  am  a  resident  of  the  state  of  Oregon,  near  at  hand,  but  I 
landed  at  Oakland,  California,  in  1889 — I  shall  never  forget  it — at  Sixteenth 
Street,  on  the  16th  day  of  August,  with  |16  in  my  pockets,  and  I  cast  my 
first  vote  in  Oakland.  I  do  not  know  whether  it  was  for  Senator  Perkins, 
but  lie  has  been  in  public  life  so  long  thai  it  may  have  been  indirectly  for 
him.  His  worthy  service  certainly  would  make  me  now  proud  to  have  voted 
for  him   when   casting  my   first  ballot. 

I  congratulate  the  state  of  California  on  having  as  part  of  the  adminis- 
tration at  Washington,  a  man  of  Mr.  Wheeler's  energy  and  sincerity.  In  the 
short  time  he  has  been  there,  he  lias  made  a  splendid  impression,  he  lias  been 
a  wheel-horse  along  with  Secretary  Straus,  and  has  a  ri  i  ord  of  which  you  can 
well  be  proud.      (Applause.) 

1  want  to  say  to  the  California  delegation  thai  when  1  arrived  in  San 
Francisco  today,  a  year  and  a  half  after  being  here  the  last  time,  1  was 
prouder  than  I  have  ever  before  been  in  my  life  thai  l  am  an  American.  When 
I  see  the  splendid  accomplishment  of  this  city,  ns  wonderful  record  in  recon- 
structing itself  out  of  the  awful  ruins  of  two  and  a  half  years  ago,  it  is  some- 
thing of  which  not  only  San  Francisco  and  California,  but  the  entire 
nation  may  he  proud.  And  1  am  glad  to  su y  that  this  record  has  established 
itself,  not  only  here,  but  throughout  all  the  world.  S;m  Francisco  is  a  syn- 
onym   for    magnificent    enterprise.       (Applause.) 

I  want  to  congratulate  the-  commercial  organizations  of  the  Pacific  Coasl 
upon  the  meeting  that  they  had  yesterday  in  the  form  of  a  ".net -together"  club. 
If  there  is  anything  that  has  Impressed  me  a1  Washington,  in  the  year  or  two 
that  1  have  lived  there,  it  is  that  the  Pacific  Coasl  should  work  together,  that 
the  Trans-Mississippi  sen  ion  should  work  together,  and  in  thai  was-  hack  up 
our  Senators  and  our  Congressmen,  and  secure  those  results  which  will  be  SO 
beneficial  to  this  section.  With  one  state  pulling  against  the  other,  with  one 
portion  of  the  Trans-Mississippi  Bectlon  working  In  opposition  to  another,  we 
cannot  come  into  our  own,  and  receive  thai  legislation  which  Is  so  necessary 
to  develop  a  new  country.  I  earnestly  pray  that  this  new  organization  may 
do  a  herculean  labor,  and  that  as  a  result  we  maj  see  prosperity  such  as  has 
never  before  come  to  the  Pacific  Coast  and  the  Trans-Mississippi  States. 
(Applause.) 

Before  I  go  into  the  perhaps  general  purpose  of  my  address,  i  want  to 
make  a  suggestion  in  regard  to  the  Trans-Mlssissipp]  Commercial  Congress. 
Of  course,  I  would  not  be  so  Indiscreet  as  to  Bay  where  it  should  i,e  held.  Hut, 
the  next  congress  will  come  just  before  the  meeting  of  the  United  States 
Congress  under  the  new  administration.  As  i  understand  it.  one  ot  the  prin- 
cipal purposes  of  the  Trans-Mississippi  Commercial  Congress  is  to  use  Influence 
getting  the  righl  kind  of  legislation  for  the  Trans-Mississippi  section.  There- 
fore, let  us  make  the  next  congress,  without  any  disrespect  to  the  p  one, 
a  record-breaker;  let  us  make  the  nex1  •  -  one  whose  Influence  will  be 
fell    all   over  this   land. 

There  cannot    he   any    more   desirable    thin:  thai    this    nexl    congress, 

to  be  held  In  Bay  October  or  November  of  1909,  shall  have,  as  its  foremost 
guest,   the   next   President   of   the   United    States    of    Ami  (Applause.)     Of 


JOHN    BARRETT,    Washington,    D.    C. 
Director-General    International    Bureau    of   the    American    Renuhlics. 


TRANS-MISSISSIPPI    COMMERCIAL    CONGRESS  39 

course,  presidents  are  a  good  deal  like  us  ordinary  people.  And  when  presi- 
dents are  happy  over  their  election,  they  will  promise  all  sorts  of  things,  that, 
a  few  weeks  later,  when  the  whole  world  is  camping  on  their  front  dooryard, 
they  will  not  be  so  likely  to  promise.  I  want  to  suggest  that  this  congress 
now,  or  during  its  session,  appoint  a  committee,  one  portion  of  which  will 
camp  in  the  middle  of  the  city  of  Cincinnati,  and  another  portion  of  which 
will  camp  in  the  middle  of  the  city  of  Lincoln,  and  the  moment  the  news 
comes  as  to  which  man  is  elected  President,  have  that  committee  wait  upon 
the  President-elect,  and  demand  of  him  that  he  attend  the  next  Trans- 
Mississippi  gathering.  (Applause.)  And  I  assure  you  that  if  you  do  it  then 
and  do  not  wait  for  a  week  or  ten  days,  you  will  get  the  promise.  As  I  say, 
lie  will  be  so  happy  in  his  election,  that  he  will  assure  you  of  his  presence. 
And  if  we  can  only  have  the  President  of  the  United  State's  at  the  next  Trans- 
Mississippi  Commercial  Congress,  there  will  be  a  dignity  and  an  influence 
as  the  result  of  it,  that  will  carry  tremendous  weight.  All  the 
Senators  and  all  the  Congressmen  that  we  want  will  be  with  us, 
if  we  will  only  have  the  President  there.  I  hope  you  will  pardon  me  for 
making  that  little  digression,  perhaps,  from  the  line  of  what  I  am  expected 
to  say  here  today.  I  am  sure  we  want  this  congress  to  be  more  than  an 
ordinary  gathering.  We  want  it  to  be  the  greatest  organization  of  its  kind 
in  this  country,  the  great  non-official  congress  of  the  people  of  the  Trans- 
Mississippi  country;  and  the  only  way  to  make  it  permanent  is  to  make  it 
have  influence,  influence  that  makes  for  results,  and  you  are  the  kind  of  men 
that  can  do  it.  I  therefore  hope  that  the  committee  that  has  in  charge  the 
next  meeting  will  pardon  me  for  this  little  suggestion. 

I  recognize,  ladies  and  gentlemen,  that  you  have  so  many  men  upon  your 
program,  with  diverse  subjects  to  discuss,  that  I  must  not  take  up  too 
much  of  your  time.  But  I  want  to  say  that  I  come  here  this  afternoon  as  the 
director  of  an  institution,  an  international  institution,  supported  by  all  the 
American  Republics,  and  devoted  to  the  development  of  commerce,  of  friend- 
ship, and  of  peace.  With  all  due  respect  to  any  organization  that  is  repre- 
sented here,  I  do  not  think  any  can  have  a  nobler  purpose. 

The  twenty-one  American  Republics  of  tne  "Western  xiemisphere,  including 
the  United  States,  organized  the  International  Bureau  some  nineteen  years  ago, 
for  the  purpose  of  making  all  the  countries  better  acquainted  with  each  other, 
of  making  this  country  know  what  was  done  in  Latin  America,  and  making 
Latin  America  know  what  there  is  up  here.  That  organization  has  been  going 
on  in  a  peaceful,  quiet  way,  until  there  appeared  upon  the  scene  of  foreign 
affairs  in  Washington  one  of  the  greatest  men  that  this  country  has  ever  pro- 
duced, a  statesman  of  splendid  ability,  a  man  with  a  broad  horizon,  a  great 
lawyer,  a  man  who  saw  that  the  destiny  of  the  United  States  as  a  powerful 
nation  depended  upon  the  co-operation  of  other  American  Republics,  a  man 
who  stands  in  the  front  rank  of  the  statesmen  of  the  world,  as  a  clear-headed 
Minister  of  Foreign  Affairs — I  refer  to  Honorable  Elihu  Root.      (Applause.) 

When  Mr.  Root  became  Secretary  of  State,  he  determined  that  he  must 
make  a  journey  around  Latin  America,  and  that  after  he  had  made  this  jour- 
ney, this  international  bureau  ought  to  be  made  a  world-recognized  powerful 
organization  for  the  development  of  commerce  and  comity  among  those  coun- 
tries. And  now,  thanks  to  his  support,  and  thanks  to  the  hearty  co-operation 
of  all  those  countries,  that  bureau  is  experiencing  a  prosperity  that  it  has 
not  experienced  in  the  past,  and  is,  in  association  'with  the  business  interests 
of  the  United  States,  the  business  interests  of  Latin  America,  the  diplomatic 
interests  of  North  America  and  the  diplomatic  interests  of  South  America, 
opening  up  an  opportunity  for  the  United  States  and  for  this  Coast  which 
was  never  appreciated  before. 

But  the  International  Bureau  of  American  Republics  can  never  become  a 
powerful  organization,  unless  it  has  the  sincere  co-operation  of  such  organiza- 
tions as  the  Trans-Mississippi  Commercial  Congress,  the  Chambers  of  Com- 
merce and  Boards  of  Trade  throughout  this  country.  We  are  beginning  to  get 
that.  We  have  already  got  it,  to  a  large  extent,  from  Latin-America. 
Already  our  correspondence  amounts  to  nearly  three  or  four  thousand  letters 
a  month.  We  are  sending  out  each  month  anywhere  from  fifteen  thousand  to 
twenty-five  thousand  pieces  of  printed  matter,  and  all  over  the  world.  We 
have  increased  our  staff  nearly  fifty  per  cent.  And  today  I  believe  this  country 
is  awakening  to  the  fact  that  it  is  time  to  stop  looking  merely  to  the  East  and 
merely  to  the  West,  that  it  is  time  to  l,ook  also  to  the  South,  to  see  what  is  the 
opportunity  there. 

I  am  greatly  in  earnest  in  this  matter.  I  mean  everything  I  say.  And 
the  more  I  study  the  field,  from  Mexico  and  Cuba  south  to  Argentina  and 
Chile,  the  more  i  realize  that  we  must  not  neglect  it  any  longer.  I  gave  up 
the  opportunity  of  going  as  an  ambassador  in  order  to  take  this 
work.  But  I  never  would  have  taken  it,  unless  I  had  known  that  I  had  the 
backing  of  such  a  man  as  Root,  unless  I  had  believed  that  I  had  the  backing 
of  the  business  and  commercial  interests  of  this  country. 


40  REPORT    OF    PROCEEDINGS 

I  want  the  Trans-Mississippi  Commercial  Congress  to  be  one  of  the  great 
levers  by  which  the  international  bureau  shall  make  the  people  of  the  Trans- 
Mississippi  section  appreciate  what  a  vast  opportunity  for  our  commercial  ex- 
pansion and  our  home  prosperity  there  is  in  this  South  and  (Vntral  American 
country.  I  Applause.)  It  is  such  a  big  field  that  I  cannot  do  justice  to  it  here 
this  afternoon.  But  I  want  to  emphasize  and  warn  you  that  there  is  danger  of 
irreparable  injury,  irreparable  injury  to  the  Pacific  Coast  and  to  the  Trans- 
Mississippi  section,  unless  it  begins  almost  now,  instantly,  to  realize  that 
opportunity  and  do  everything  that  it  can  to  make  itself  better  acquainted 
with  it.  and  to  make  that  section  better  acquainted  with  us.  I  am  not  indulging 
in  any  exaggeration  when  I  point  out  to  you  that  the  countries  of  Europe 
today  are  struggling  harder  to  get  the  trade  right  in  your  front  door,  as  it 
were,  than  is  the  United  States.  I  indulge  in  no  exaggeration  when  I  tell 
you  that  at  this  moment  the  government  "f  Japan  is  doing  more  to  get  in 
touch  with  the  great  trade  of  the  west  coast  of  South  Ame'  ca  than  is  the 
government  of  the  United  States.  Those  arc  hard  facts,  but  they  are  true. 
It  is  no  discredit  to  Europe,  it  is  no  discredit  to  Japan.  I  say  it  not  in  any 
spirit  of  criticism.  It  is  to  the  credit  of  both  Europe  and  Japan  that  they 
are  doing  it.  But  we  should  be  up  and  doing,  working  all  the  harder,  to  see 
that  our  position  is  not  lost. 

Those  countries  realize  that,  just  as  soon  as  the  Panama  Canal  is  com- 
pleted, it  will  give  the  United  States  an  advantage  that  it  never  had  before, 
that  there  will  be  a  mighty  commercial  development  all  along  the  west  coast 
such  as  it  has  never  experienced  before.  And  they  are  therefore  sending  to 
Latin  America,  especially  to  the  west  coast  "f  Latin  America,  today,  their  best 
diplomatic  officers,  their  best  consuls,  their  best  commercial  agents,  their  best 
representative  men,  in  order  to  get  a  hold  from  which  it  will  be  difficult  to 
oust  them  when  we  wake  up  to  a  real  comprehension  of  the  opportunity. 

The  Latin  American  field  is  so  vast  that  I  can  only  give  you  one  or  two 
general  statements  that  will  make  you  comprehend  it.  Then  I  want  to  follow 
them  with  one  or  two  brief  statements  in  regard  to  the  twelve  republics  just 
south  of  us,  bordering  on  the  Pacific  Ocean,  our  own  close  neighbors,  which 
should  be  in  the  closest  touch  with  the  Pacific  Coast  of  the  United  States  and 
the  Trans-Mississippi  country.  But  the  Trans-Mississippi  country  includes 
Texas  and  Louisiana,  as  part  of  it — territory  bordering  upon  the  Gulf  of 
Mexico  as  well  as  upon  the  Pacific  Ocean.  So  I  will  just  call  your  attention  to 
the  general  field  in  a   brief  word. 

There  are  twenty-one  American  Republics.  The  United  States  we  might 
call  the  first  or  the  twenty-first.  The  other  twenty  are  Latin  Republics — we 
call  them  Latin  because  they  are  descended  from  the  Latin  races  of  Southern 
Europe.  The  United  States  is  Anglo-Saxon,  So  it  is  almost  the  proportion  of 
twenty  to  one  against  us.  These  twenty-one  republics,  including  the 
United  States,  cover  a  total  area  of  twelve  millions  of  square  miles.  Think 
of  it!  But  of  that,  the  United  States  proper,  without  Alaska,  has  only  three 
millions.  In  other  words,  our  sister  republics  occupy  three-quarters  of  the 
total  area  of  the  American  Republics.  Think  id  what  that  means  in  regard 
to  natural  resources  and  the  greal  competition  in  commerce  and  trade  in 
the  future. 

When  we  consider  population,  we  find  that  the  twenty-one  republics, 
including  the  United  States,  have  a  population  of  approximately  one  hundred 
and  sixty  millions.  Bui  of  that,  our  sister  republics,  though  often  despised 
and  disregarded,  have  seventy  millions.  There  are  seventy  millions  of  people, 
with  a  future  to  work  out,  just  as  we  have,  and  it  is  for  us  to  stop  and  think 
whether  we  are  ^oing  to  have  those  seventy  millions  ami  the  increment  of 
influence  which  is  going  to  be  reaped,  on  our  side  ami  with  us  in  the  race  of 
nations,  or  have  them  againsl  us.  Unless  we  begin  very  soon,  there  is  danger 
that  it  may  he  extremely  difficult  lor  us  to  overcome  the  prejudice  there  is 
against   us. 

I  indulge,  I  say,  in  no  criticism  of  ourselves,  but  I  simply  state  a  fact 
when  I  remind  you  thai  we  have  pursued  in  the  past  too  much  of  a  "holier 
than  thou"  attitude  towards  them.  We  have  patronized  Latin  America  too 
much.  We  have  taken  the  position  that  we  were  "it,"  and  the  "only  thing," 
and  that  they  were  hardly  worthy  of  consideration.  Ami  when  we.  as  the 
belle  of  the  hall,  were  willing  to  dance  with  any  outsider,  it  has  been  some 
Kuropean  nation,  or  Japan,  or  China,  while  the  Latin  American  Republics  had 
to  he  the  wall  flowers.  Bui  we  forget  that  they  are  young  girls,  as  it  were, 
and  that,  Kirl-like,  they  may  give  us  thd  "mitten"  when  we  ask  them  to  dance 
with  us.  It  is  high  time,  therefore,  that  while  they  are  yet  in  their  youth,  as 
they  are  now.  just  about  in  the  position  where  we  wore  fifty  years  ago,  we 
should  show  them  that  we  are  thoroughly  Interested  in  their  welfare  and  in 
their  progress  and  development. 

Now  I  come  to  a  salient  comparison  that  I  think  probably  many  of  you 
have  thought  of  a  good  many  times,  and  at  other  times  discussed.  Before  I 
state  it,  1  want  to  say  that  there  is  no  man  here  who  has  more  respect  for 
Japan    than    have    I;    no   man    here    who   [s   more   interested   in   China   than   am   I. 


TRANS-MISSISSIPPI    COMMERCIAL    CONGRESS  41 

Fifteen  years  ago  it  was  my  privilege  to  write  letters  to  the  Chamber  of 
Commerce  of  San  Francisco  and  to  the  newspapers  here,  urging  them  to 
develop  their  commerce  in  this  Trans-Pacific  world,  and  I  was  made 
fun  of  because  I  prophesied  those  things  that  came  true  long  years 
before  even  I  thought  they  would.  I  have  been  criticized  by  the  news- 
papers of  San  Francisco,  ten  or  twelve  years  ago,  because  I  predicted  the 
future  of  the  Orient,  its  mighty  power  and  influence  and  prosperity.  I  was 
ridiculed  in  sucn  terms  that  it  made  me  feel  that  my  efforts  were  not  appre- 
ciated.    But  everything  that  I  predicted  there,  and  more    has  come  true. 

I  say  that,  while  I  respect  and  admire  Japan  and  China,  and  believe  we 
should  leave  no  effort  unmade  to  get  ourselves  in  touch  with  that  part  of  the 
world,  we  should  leave  no  stone  untouched  to  develop  our  trade  with  the 
Orient,  it  would  be  criminal  if,  in  our  attention  to  that  part  of  the 
world,  we  neglected  our  own  sister  republics  to  the  south  of  us.  My  friends, 
if  the  Pacific  Coast  of  the  United  States  would  spend  one-tenth  of  the  money 
that  it  has  spent  to  exploit  itself  in  the  Orient,  in  exploiting  Lati^  America, 
it  would  get  five  times  the  return  that  it  has  received  from  the  Orient.  If  the 
United  States  Government  had  spent  one-twentieth  of  the  money  that  it  has 
in  the  Far  East  to  make  its  position  stronger  in  South  America  we  would 
have  now  twenty  times  the  returns  from  the  effort.     (Applause.) 

I  want  to  give  you  just  one  illustration  of  what  I  mean.  Down  in  South 
America  is  the  great  Argentine  Republic,  half  as  large  as  the  United  States, 
a  great  white  man's  land,  a  country  of  wondrous  vigor  and  influence  and 
power.  There  are  only  six  millions  of  people  down  there — only  six  millions. 
There  are  nearly  fifty  millions  in  Japan- — the  great  Japan  that  has  conquered 
Russia  in  war.  There  are  from  three  to  four  hundred  millions  in  China,  that 
great  empire  that  is  awakening,  that  vast  empire  that  has  always  been 
represented  to  us  as  our  only  field  for  trade  in  the  Pacific — forgetting  South 
America.  But  I  want  to  call  your  attention,  as  a  home  blow,  as  it  were,  a 
blow  against  this  idea  that  South  America  is  inconsequential,  to  the  fact  that 
last  year  those  six  millions  of  Argentines,  who  look  like  you,  who  feel  like 
you,  a  splendid  race  of  splendid  men  and  splendid  women,  carried  on  a  greater 
foreign  trade  than  Japan  with  her  fifty  millions  or  China  with  her  three 
hundred    millions.      (Applause.) 

The  total  foreign  trade  of  Argentina  last  year  amounted  to  six  hundred 
millions  of  dollars,  and  it  was  bona  fide  trade,  every  dollar  of  it.  That  is 
merely  by  way  of  illustration.  If  you  will  take  the  population  of  Chile  and 
Bolivia,  of  Peru  and  Ecuador,  and  Colombia,  and  Mexico,  and  Central  America, 
on  the  West  Coast,  and  compare  the  total  population  to  the  total  trade,  you 
will  see  there  too,  a  business  which  completely  transcends  the  business  of 
the  Orient. 

I  say,  keep  at  the  Orient,  let  us  develop  their  buying  and  their  selling 
capacity,  let  us  do  all  we  can  to  make  the  Orient  prosperous  and  get  the 
benefit  of  it.  But  do  not,  in  so  doing,  let  us  neglect  that  which  is  in  our  own 
front  yard,  as  it  were,  our  own  sister  republics. 

The  total  foreign  trade  last  year  of  the  twenty-one  republics  of  the 
Western  Hemisphere  amounted  to  a  little  over  five  billions  of  dollars,  exports 
and  imports.  Of  that,  the  share  of  these  nations  to  the  south  of 
us,  amounted  to  over  two  billions  of  dollars.  In  other  words,  Latin 
America  conducted  over  one-third  of  the  total  foreign  commerce  of 
the  Western  Hemisphere  of  republics,  including  the  United  States. 
If  they  can  do  that  in  their  present  stage  of  development,  what  are  they  going 
to  do  twenty  or  thirty  years  from  now,  when  billions  of  foreign  dollars  have 
been  invested  within  them,  when  railroads  have  been  constructed,  the  Panama 
Canal  has  been  opened,  and  revolutions  have  been  done  away  with?  Why,  any 
man  with  any  sense  of  arithmetic  can  draw  his  own  conclusions. 

I  said  revolutions.  What  a  misnomer!  Just  because  there  is  a  little 
trouble  in  some  small  American  republic  we  are  prone  to  forget  that  the 
greater  portion  of  Latin  America  is  free  from  revolutions.  It  is  a  fact 
that  three-quarters  of  the  Latin  American  Republics  in  area,  and  three- 
quarters  of  Latin  America's  population,  have  known  no  revolutions  in  the 
last  fifteen  years.  And  yet,  because  a  little  trouble  occurs  here  or  there, 
we  talk  about  the  prevalent  and  characteristic  conditions  of  revolution  in 
Lating    America. 

A  great  financial  paper  of  Europe  the  other  day  announced  that  European 
capital  invested  in  the  majority  of  the  South  American  countries  today  was 
returning  a  larger  dividend  than  the  capital  invested  in  the  United  States,  and 
that  the  bonds  of  several  of  the  Latin  American  countries  were  selling 
as  high  as  those  of  the  United  States. 

So  let  us  not  live  in  too  much  of  a  glass  house.  I  would  like,  as  a  matter, 
perhaps  of  reducing  a  little  our  pride,  to  remind  you  that  the  area  of  Brazil 
is  greater  than  the  connected  area  of  the  United  States,  and  you  could  throw 
into  the  surplus  the  state  of  California.  I  would  like  to  remind  you, 
too  that  out  of  the  mouth  of  the  Amazon  River  flows  every  morning 
three     times    as    much   as   out   of   the    Mississippi.       I    would    like     to     remind 


42  REPORT    OF    PROCEEDINGS 

i 

you  that  ships  of  twenty-five  feet  draft  can  "iily  go  as  far  as  New  Orleans 
in  the  Mississippi  River,  while  the  same  shins  can  go  two  thousand  miles 
up  the  Amazon  River,  i>ut  l  have  not  time  to  so  Into  the  details  of  such  a 
comparison.  1  would  like  to  call  your  attention  to  the  city  of  Uiienos  Ayres, 
a  city  of  one  million  two  hundred  thousand  people  in  South  America,  growing- 
faster  than  any  city  In  the  United  Stales  with  the  exception  of  New  York 
and  Chicago,  and  possibly  San  Francisco,  a  city  that  Is  today  giving  us  lessons 
of  how  to  govern  itself,  a  city  of  splendid  parks  and  boulevards,  of  splendid 
schools,  two  great  opera  houses,  and  clubs  and  all  those  features  of  modern 
civilization,  of  which  the  world  can  be  proud.  I  would  like  to  tell  you  how 
Rio  Janeiro  is  reaching  near  the  million  mark  In  population,  and  is  spending 
over  fifty  million  dollars  in  public  Improvements,  overcoming  the  obstacles  of 
the  tropics,  and  making  itself  one  of  the  show  cities  of  the  world.  I  would 
like  to  tell  you  that  the  Argentine  Republic  spent  ten  million  dollars 
in  governmental  Irrigation  before  the  government  of  the  United  States  had 
undertaken  its  Brat  work  of  that  kind.  The  Brazilian  government  is  today 
appropriating  more  money  for  improvement  of  its  rivers  ami  harbors  than 
Is  the  great  government  of  the  United  States.     (Applause.) 

I  would  like  to  tell  you.  further,  that  the  city  of  Valparaiso,  your  own 
neighbor,  your  own  fellow-sufferer  In  an  earthquake,  is  about  to  expend 
fifteen  million  dollars  in  building  the  finest  artificial  harbor  on  the  Pacific 
Coast,  in  order  that  it  may  draw  its  share  of  the  commerce  of  the  Pacific 
Ocean.  I  would  like  to  telL  yon  how  Santiago  has  followed  your  splendid 
example  here  rebuilding  itself  after  the  earthquake;  how  Chile  is  spending 
titty  millions  of  dollars  to  build  a  great  longitudinal  railway  of  over  a 
thousand  miles  through  the  length  of  the  country,  and  how  the  government  of 
Bolivia  is  spending  fifty  millions  of  dollars  tor  a  railway  system;  and  so  on. 
But  I  have  not  time  to  go  into  all  those  details  today — it  would  be  too  long 
a  story. 

What  I  am  getting  at  is  this:  I  am  coming  to  the  point  of  making  you 
appreciate  that  we  must  get  in  touch,  particularly  with  those  twelve  republics 
bordering  on  the  Pacific  Ocean.  Those  twelve  republics — .Mexico  first,  then 
Guatemala,  Salvador,  and  Honduras,  Nicaragua.  Costa  Rica,  Panama,  Colombia, 
K.uador,  Peru.  Bolivia  and  Chile — all  of  which  you  are  just  entering  upon  a 
period   of  development   which   must  appeal   to   you. 

Mexico,  right  south  of  you,  is  just  commencing  to  do  the  very  thing  that 
should  appeal  to  this  Pacific  Coast.  Heretofore  it  has  been  the  central  and 
eastern  portions  of  Mexico  that  have  experienced  progress.  Now  they  are 
beginning  to  develop  the   west   coaBt    of  Mexico,   a   mighty   west  coast,   like   the 

««*»»■*      AAn*.t      **e     enlif.n-iiiii       o  t"»  A      Hrofrnn      Q  ,1 . 1       \\*  'i  ^  l-i  i  r\  o-t  r,n  TM-,*iTr      ot«o      beCTilinin0' 

to   establish 

v,    from    the 

,   Guatemala. 

And  during  the  next  ten  years  you  are  going  to  see  a  development  along  the 
west  coast  of  America  that  will  be  greater  than  the  best  development  in  the 
central  and  eastern  portions  of  it. 

It  is,  therefore,  high  time  that  \\  e  should  get  In  touch  with  those  coun- 
tries and  that  section  from  which  there  are  to  come  such  great  opportunities. 

A  short  time  ago  one  of  the  great  financial  papers  of  London  estimated 
that  over  a  billion  dollars  would  be  Invested  in  the  west  coast  of  Mexico 
during  the  next  ten  years  by  Europe,  in  addition  to  the  money  that  will  com,. 
from  the  United  States. 

I  wish  l  had  time  to  go  Into  detail  and  give  you  the  particulars'  of  the 
enterprises  that  are  waiting  for  our  capital  In  Mexico,  but  T  have  not.  Just 
south  of  Mexico  is  Guatemala.  Guatemala  has  been  connected  with  Mexico  by 
th,.  i'an-.\merican  Railway,  Thej  have  built  a  railroad  across  from  the 
Caribbean   Sea    to   the    Pacific   0  In   Guatemala      South    of    that    we    find 

Honduras,   a    terra    incognita    With    great    resources;    Nicaragua,    its   coast    section 

well  developed;  and  Costa  Rica,  a  peaceful  land  of  great  prosperity,  now  just 
completing  a  railway  from  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  to  the  Caribbean  Sea.  What 
about  those  live  countries,  those  Ave  Central  American  Republics,  your  own 
neighbors  that    havi  oion    been   regarded  as   the   land  of  revolution,   but 

which  have  within  the  last  year  signed  the  most  advanced  treaty  for  interna- 
tional  peace  that  the  world  has  ever  known?    (Applause.)    in  the  chambers  of 

the   international    ibir.au   of   A rlcan    Republics    I   saw   the   plenipotentiaries 

,,|-  those  nve  countries,  In  the  presence  of  Mr.  Creel,  the  Ambassador  of 
Mexico,  ami  Mr.  Buchanan,  the  representative  of  the  United  stales,  sign 
a  treaty  by  which  they  agreed  to  Bett  dispute  without  appeal  to  arms — 

a    thousand    times    more    advanced    'ban    even    the    great     Hague    conference. 

(Applause.)       The    test     is    Just     now    coining.       Ami     we     may     yet     see    the    most 

civiii/.ed   ami   progressive   nations  of   Europe  and   the   United   states  taught  a 


TRANS-MISSISSIPPI    COMMERCIAL    CONGRESS  43 

lesson  by  these  Central  American  countries.  In  other  words,  a  child  shall 
lead  them. 

If  that  treaty  proves  a  success,  gentlemen,  there  is  opportunity  for  the 
investment  of  a  hundred  million  dollars  of  Trans-Mississippi  capital,  with  a 
consequent  development  of  the  exchange  of  trade  between  that  section  and 
this,  which  will  bring  great  prosperity  to  Los  Angeles,  to  San  Francisco,  to 
Portland,  to  Tacoma,  and  to  Seattle,  and  also  to  the  ports  of  the  Gulf  of 
Mexico,  of  the  Trans-Mississippi  section. 

I  might  speak  to  you  of  Panama.  Panama  is  not  merely  t.»e  home  of  the 
canal.  It  is  a  land  of  thirty  thousand  square  miles,  of  great  productiveness 
when   it  shall  be  opened  up. 

As  to  the  Panama  Canal,  my  friends,  I  want  to  call  your  attention  to  the 
fact  that  that  enterprise  marks  and  is  perhaps  the  greatest  monument  that 
this  country  has  ever  constructed  to  show  to  the  world  what  American  per- 
sistency and  courage  and  enterprise  can  accomplish.  When  I  go  back  to  the 
days  that  tried  men's  souls,  and  I  use  that  "bromide"  of  speech  with  sincerity — 
it  was  the  time  that  tried  men's  souls,  and  I  may  be  pardoned  a  personal 
reference,  as  some  of  you  know  that  I  have  the  honor  of  being  your  first 
Minister  there,  and  of  bringing  about  the  solution  of  the  questions  surrounding 
the  government  of  Panama  and  the  government  of  the  Canal  Zone.  When 
General  Davis,  as  Governor  of  the  Canal  Zone,  and  myself  as  Minister,  went 
down  to  Panama,  we  found  the  isthmus  one  solid  jungle,  with  millions  of 
dollars'  worth  of  French  machinery  standing  up  there  in  the  forest  like  great 
specters  or  ghosts  of  the  past.  We  found  no  drainage,  we  found  no  water 
systems,  we  found  only  a  single  track  of  railway,  we  found  nothing  but  poor 
hospitals,  no  home  for  our  employees,  and  we  found  mosquitoes,  mosquitoes 
everywhere,  malaria  everywhere,  and  death-striking  yellow  fever  stalking  in 
every  street,  and  into  every  building  and  home.  I  remember  so  well  one 
Sunday  night  I  gave  a  dinner  to  about  ten  of  the  younger  men  connected 
with  the  work.  There  was  the  chief  architect  of  the  Canal  Zone,  just  about 
to  marry  a  beautiful  girl  in  Chicago;  the  chief  auditor  of  the  Canal  Zone,  who 
had  a  wife  and  six  little  children  watching  for  his  return;  the  stroke  oar  of 
the  Harvard  crew,  who  had  just  come  down  after  graduation  to  assist  in  that 
work  there;  and  a  young  alumnus  of  Cornell  who  had  gone  down  there  to 
assist  in  the  surveying  work.  On  the  following  Saturday  I  followed  those 
four  men  to  the  grave,  and  saw  them  buried  beneath  tne  yellow  clay.  And 
many  a  lovely  girl  who  came  down  as  the  wife,  sister,  or  daughter  of  the 
employees,  I  saw  buried  in  that  somber  little  cemetery.  So  I  say  to  you  that 
those  were  times  that  tried  men's  souls.  And  that  lasted  for  a  time.  All 
credit  to  the  boys  of  the  United  States  and  the  girls  of  our  country  who  stood 
at  their  posts  and  enabled  us  to  pass  through  that  dread  period. 

What  has  happened  now?  The  jungle  has  disappeared;  the  railroad  is 
double-tracked;  the  mosquitoes  are  gone;  drainage  is  everywhere,  splendid 
water-works,  splendid  hospitals,  splendid  homes  for  our  laborers,  and  every- 
where the  evidence  of  American  persistency  and  courage.  (Applause.) 
That  has  taught  a  lesson  to  our  sister  republics,  and  today  we  find  the  Central 
American  countries  and  the  South  American  countries  in  the  tropics  all 
sending  their  scientists  and  specialists  to  Panama  to  learn  how  it  has  been 
done  in  order  that  they  may  conquer  the  same  dangers  in  the  tropics. 
You  are  going  to  see  the  result  of  that  influence  in  the  growth  of  population 
and  trade  all  through  the  tropical  section,  which  will  gain  an  enormous 
heritage  to  the  United  States  in  its  exchange  of  commerce,  if  we  will  but  take 
advantage  of  our  opportunities. 

My  friends,  this  Pacific  Coast,  from  Mexico  south  to  Chile,  reaches  along 
some  six  thousand  miles.  Think  of  what  that  means  with  its  ports  and  its 
hack  country!  Those  twelve  republics  have  now  an  annual  foreign  trade  of 
six  hundred  "and  fifty-five  millions  of  dollars.  Think  of  that!  These  neglected 
countries  on  the  west  coast  of  North  and  South  America  with  an  annual 
foreign  trade  of  six  hundred  and   fifty-five  millions! 

When  we  analyze  this,  we  find  that  four  hundred  millions  of  it  is  with 
other  countries  than  the  United  States,  leaving  only  two  hundred  and 
fifty-five  millions  of  trade  with  the  United  States,  and  that  includes  both  ex- 
ports and  imports.  This  trade  should  be  at  least  two-thirds  in  our  hands,  and 
if  you  will  analyze  the  list  of  imports  of  that  great  coast  line,  you  will  find 
that  a  large  proportion  of  them  could  be  supplied  by  the  Trans-Mississippi 
and  Pacific  Coast  States  of  the  United  States. 

We  find  in  those  twelve  republics  twenty  millions  of  people.  I  think  the 
Domilation  of  the  Pacific  Coast  States— California,  Oregon  and  Washington- 
is  about  three  or  four  millions,  and  the  total  population  of  the  countries 
debouching  on  the  Pacific  Ocean  is  twenty  millions,  a  population  that  is  going 
to  increase  rapidly  when  their  conditions  are  improved.  V*  e  find  again,  those 
twentv  millions  of  people  conducting  a  greater  foreign  trade  than  the 
fifty  millions  of  people  of  Japan,  or  the  three  hundred  millions  of  China. 
And  vet  we  hardly  feel  acquainted  with  them. 

There   are    so    many   things    that    come    to   my   mind    which    might   help    to 


44  REPORT    OF    PROCEEDINGS 

right  this  situation,  that  I  have  not  time  to  go  through  them.  But  one  of 
the  first  tilings  that  comes  to  me  is  this:  The  absolute  necessity  of  improv- 
ing our  steamship  facilities.  (Applause.)  We  must  have  fast  express,  mail 
and  passenger  steamers  running  from  San  Francisco  and  Portland  and 
Tacoma  and  Seattle  and  Los  Angeles  and  San  Diesro,  to  the  ports  of  Mexico 
and  Central  America  and  South  America,  just  as  much  as  we  have  fast 
express,  mail  ami   passenger   trains  on  land.      (Applause.) 

Could  San  Francisco  conduct  its  business  with  Los  Angeles  and  Portland 
and  the  rest  of  the  world  if  its  business  men  had  to  travel  on  freight  trains, 
if  its  mails  were  carried  in  freight  trains?  You  say  we  have  water  connection 
witli  those  ports  down  there.  But  you  have  got  to  bring  the  business  men 
of  those  countries  to  this  Coast,  and  to  the  Trans-Mississippi  country  gener- 
ally, and  our  business  men  have  K"t  t"  go  down  there,  if  you  are  going  to 
develop  trade.  Your  letters  from  your  great  export  and  import  houses  have 
got  to  go  down  in  quick  time,  and  answers  have  got  to  come  back  quickly, 
if  you  are  going  to  compete  with  Europe  and  with  .Japan  and  the  east  coast  of 
the  United  States.  It  is  as  foolish  to  say  that  we  can  go  on  with  the  present 
facilities  as  to  say  that  it  would  be  sufficient  to  travel  from  here  to  New 
York  in  the  slowest-going  freight  trains  that  there  are  on  the  Union  Pacific. 
It  is  a  simple  case  of  two  and  two  making  four.  We  are  neglecting  an  oppor- 
tunity that  the  rest  of  the  world  is  appreciating'.  Europe  is  considering  how 
she  can  improve  her  steamship  facilities,  as  is  Japan  also,  with  that  part  of 
the  world.     And  we,  I  am  afraid,  are  sitting  idly  by. 

I  watch  the  New  York  "Herald"  and  the  San  Francisco  papers,  and  I 
see  that  your  rich  men  and  your  men  of  business  who  have  been  prosperous 
and  want  to  spend  a  little  money,  always  go  over  to  Europe,  or  to  the  Orient; 
they  never  think  of  going  down  to  South  America.  I  wish  there  could  be  a 
change  in  this  matter  of  travel,  and  that  business  men  of  this  section,  and  of 
the  Trans-Mississippi  country  generally,  when  they  travel,  would  go  down 
the  west  coast  of  Smith  America,  and  hack  up  the  east  coast.  If  they  did 
they  would  learn  a  lesson  that  would  be  very   helpful  to  you  here. 

Another  thing.  They  do  not  know  enough  about  us  in  the  right  way. 
I  would  like  to  see  the  Chamber  of  Commerce  of  San  Francisco,  and  of  these 
other  cities  of  the  Pacific  ("oast,  ami  the  Trans-Mississippi  section,  prepare 
carefully  descriptive  pamphlets  of  their  trade  facilities  in  the  Spanish  lan- 
guage— in  correct  Spanish,  and  not  written  in  Pigeon  Spanish.  "When  I 
think  of  my  experience  as  a  Minister  in  Latin  America  in  three  different  coun- 
tries, and  remembered  the  Spanish  of  Americans  who  had  never  been 
in  Latin  America,  I  imagined  whal  would  be  the  condition  if  you  had 
circulars  sent  up  here  from  Spanish  America  written  or  translated  by  the 
Spanish  or  Latins  who  had  never  learned  the  English  language.  Let  us  send 
invitations  down  there,  written  in  the  purest  and  best  Spanish,  inviting  them 
to  come  here.  Let  us  advertise  in  their  newspapers.  We  are  neglecting  that 
held  entirely.  They  have  great  newspapers  all  over  the  territory.  Let  the 
great  export  and  import  merchants  of  this  Coast,  and  of  the  Trans-Mississippi 
section,  advertise  In  the  newspapers  of  the  west  coast  of  South  America,  and 
you  will  see  results  that  ymi  have  never  seen  before. 

I  want  to  see,  moreover,  a  large  element  of  our  young  men  studying  the 
Spanish  language.  (Applause.)  I  want  to  see  b  large  proportion  of  the  youth 
of  this  State,  under  the  able  direction  "f  the  Presidenl  of  the  University  of 
California,  Benjamin  Ide  Wheeler,  studying  the  Spanish  language  and  edu- 
cated  to  the  habits  ami  ways  "f  thinking  <>f  the  Latin  Americans,  so  that  they 
can  represent  you  down  there  in  a  creditable  manner  and  be  well  received. 
In  addition  to  that.  I  want  to  see  an  Invitation  given  out  from  this  State  to 
Latin  America  to  send  their  young  people  up  here  to  learn  the  English  lan- 
guage, and  learn  our  ways,  habits,  and  country.  Today,  ninety  per  cent  of 
the  youth  of  Latin  America  are  going  to  Europe  in  order  to  be  educated. 
The  tide  should  be  turned.  It  should  be  just  the  reverse,  and  ninety  per  cent 
of  them  should  come  to  this  country  for  their  education. 

Further,  I  want  to  suggest  to  you,  in  the  greatesl  of  sincerity,  that  all 
of  you  should  study  that  pari  of  the  world,  just  as  you  read  about  the 
Eastern  States,  or  you  read  about  Europe  and  Asia,  and  get  into  sympathy 
and  touch  with  them,  learn  of  their  historical  deeds,  learn  of  their  great 
resources,  ami   their  great    possibilities,   and   then   you   will    i  ,,n  admira- 

tion that  will  be  a  greal  mora]  Bentimenl  all  through  this  country  for  the 
development   of  closer   relations   with   thai    pan    of   the   world. 

Now.  I  beg  of  you,  riot  to  postpone  action,  i  do  not  want  to  see  this 
Congress  break  up  this  after] n,  and  finally  close  its  session  her.-  and  per- 
haps say.  "Barrett  told  us  some  Interesting  tilings.''  and  let  thai  be  all  I 
want  to  see  action.  1  want  to  see  this  Trans  Mississippi  Commercial  Congress 
pass  resolutions  appreciative  of  thai  great  held  down  there,  it  js  with  great 
pleasure  that  I  was  able  to  secure  the  co-operation  of  both  Mr.  Taft  and  Mr 
Bryan   in   putting   Into   the    Democratic   and    Republican   platforms  a    plank  in 

favor  of  recognizing  their  Importai and  the  development   of  trade  relations 

with    them. 


TRANS-MISSISSIPPI    COMMERCIAL    CONGRESS  45 

It  was  announced  that  I  would  say  a  word  here  today  in  behalf  of  the 
Latin  American  Ambassadors  and  Ministers.  I  do  that.  I  communicated 
with  each  one  of  them  some  time  ago,  and  told  them  of  this  Congress.  1 
not  need  to  explain  it,  because  two  years  ago  you  remember  the  great  Con- 
gress tnat  was  held  in  Kansas  City,  which  was  addressed  by  Mr.  Root  and 
Mr.  Bryan  and  Secretary  Shaw,  and  others  of  national  prominence.  To  that 
Congress  seven  or  eight  of  the  diplomats  of  Latin  America  went  and  made 
speeches  of  historical  significance.  That  Congress  was  talked  about,  not  only 
in  Sout-.  America,  but  in  Europe  and  in  Japan.  One  of  the  leading  papers 
of  TokiO  published  over  a  thousand  words  of  Mr.  Root's  speech,  with  selec- 
tions from  the  speeches  of  the  other  Ministers.  The  great  papers  of  Europe 
did  the  same  thing.  That  had  an  influence,  one  that  was  so  great  that  every 
Ambassador  and  Minister  knew  all  about  this  Congress  when  I  communi- 
cated with  him.  Every  one  of  them  wrote  to  me,  without  exception,  to  this 
effect,  that  they  regretted  that  the  lateness  of  the  season  and  the  distance 
from  Washington  and  the  meeting  of  the  great  tuberculosis  congress  in 
Washington  prevented  their  acceptance.  Nearly  every  Ambassador  and 
Minister  attended  as  a  delegate  to  the  tuberculosis  congress  in  the  National 
Capital — that  was  their  first  duty,  and  it  largely  prevented  their  coming  here. 
But  every  one  of  them  expressed  the  deepest  sympathy  with  you  in  your 
work,  the  closest  interest  in  what  you  are  trying  to  accomplish,  and  said  that 
every  one  of  the  Latin  American  Republics  would  co-operate  with  you  in 
educating  popular  sentiment  alike  in  North  and  South  America  to  an  appreci- 
ation of  the  importance  of  improving  and  developing  a  Pan-American  com- 
merce and  comity.      (Applause.) 

My  closing  words — and  you  will  pardon  me  for  just  touching  the  high 
places,  for  that  is  all  I  have  done,  and  there  are  lots  of  high  places  down 
in  those  Latin  American  Republics — I  desire  to  tell  you  of  a  journey  of  nearly 
two  thousand  miles  that  I  took  along  the  slope  of  the  Andes  Mountains,  to 
see  that  great  ■western  section  which  would  be  opened  by  the  Panama  Canal. 
But  I  see  that  I  have  not  time  to  go  into  it.  I  would  like  to  do  so,  because 
a  large  portion  of  that  country  appears  to  be  in  the  tropics,  whereas  in 
reality  those  great  plateaus  at  an  elevation  of  nine  thousand  and  ten 
thousand  feet,  covering  enormous  areas,  have  a  climate  that  is  like  that  of 
California,  and  can  spport  millions  of  people  like  those  of  our  Pacific  Coast 
here.  When  the  Panama  Canal  is  an  accomplished  fact,  and  you  get  into  closer 
touch  with  that  country,  you  will  be  surprised  to  see  the  possibilities,  and 
what  can  be  accomplished  now  under  the  conditions  as  they  exist. 

My  final  word  is  not  merely  material.  I  do  not  wish  you  to  go  away 
from  here  and  say,  "What  this  man  has  said  to  us  is  merely  an  appeal  to  our 
pocketbooks.  merely  an  appeal  to  our  business  interests.''  I  want  you  to  go 
away  and  feel  that  I  have  exhorted  you  to  remember  this:  That  all  of  those 
twenty  American  Republics  to  the  south  of  us  today  are  watching  closely 
everything  that  we  do.  everything  that  you  and  I  do,  to  see  whether  we  are 
worthy  to  lead  them,  to  see  whether  we  are  worthy  to  be  called  the  big 
brother  or  the"  big  sister  of  all  these  other  nations.  They  are  not  so  much 
watching  us  to  see  whether  we  will  improve  our  steamship  facilities,  whether 
we  will  sell  to  them  our  products  and  buy  their  products;  they  are  rather 
waiting  to  see  whether  the  great  citizenhood  of  this  country  will  solve  the 
mighty  problems  of  state  confronting  this  Nation  today  successfully,  and 
therefore  point  out  to  them  the  way.  They  are  watching  every  discussion 
in  our  National  Congress,  every  action  of  our  President  and  every  public 
man,  and  the  attitude  of  the  American  people  on  all  of  these  issues,  to  see 
whether  we  have  the  moral  strength  and  moral  fortitude  to  stand  the  stress. 
the  pressure  of  matters  merely  material,  to  stand  the  temptation  to  get  rich 
quickly — in  fine,  to  become  a  great  moral  force.  It  depends  upon  the  people 
of  California  and  of  the  Trans-Mississippi  country  as  well  as  upon  those  in 
New  England  and  the  East,  upon  every  man  here  as  well  as  upon  the  Presi- 
dent and  Congress  of  the  LTnited  States,  as  to  whether  we  hold  to  the  true 
moral  standard  to  which  they  expect  us  to  hold.  I  hope  that  the  delegates 
to  the  Trans-Mississippi  Commercial  Congress  and  the  people  of  His  Nation 
are  going  to  be  aware  of  this  fact,  and  to  enable  our  country  to  stand  before 
South  America  with  such  ideals,  with  such  purposes,  such  hopes,  such  acts  and 
deeds,  that  we  shall  be  loved,  loved  permanently,  loved  affectionately,  by  all 
of  our  sister  republics. 

I   thank    you.      (Great   applause.) 

By  President  Case: 

There  has  come  to  us  from  Honolulu-  a  good  delegation,  and  those 
of  you  who  attended  the  Congress  at  Muskogee  last  year  will  remember 
that,  even  at  that  long  range,  Hawaii  sent  to  us  a  good,  strong  delegation. 
We  that  come  from  the  far  Eastern  section  of  this  territory,  from  Kansas 
City  and  St.   Louis,  think  that  we  come  quite  a  distance.     But  when  one 


46  REPORT    OF    PROCEEDINGS 

thinks  of  riding  eight  days.  I  know  that  the  members  of  this  Congress 
appreciate  such  a  delegation.  One  of  the  vice-presidents  of  this  Congress 
is  the  president  of  the  Chamber  of  Commerce  of  Honolulu,  and  I  take  great 
pleasure  in  introducing  to  you  the  Honorable  James  F.  Morgan,  who  will 
discuss  the  subject  of  Hawaii  and   Pearl  Harbor.     (Applause.) 

kDDRESS  ON    HAWAII    IND  PEARL  HARBOR, 
lly   Honorable  Jamea    r.    Morgan,    Prealdcnl    Honolulu    Chamber  of   Commerce. 

Mr.  President,  Delegates  to  the  Trans-Mississippi  Commercial  Oongress, 
Ladies  and  Gentlemen:  I  became  so  interested  in  thi  address  of  Mr.  Barrett 
thai  T  really  forgol   thai    I   was  to  address  you. 

When  we  first  considered  attending  this  Congress,  Hawaii  fell  that  it 
could  not  send  much  of  a  delegation,  bul   lasl  i     nj  ress  treated  us  so 

handsomely  and  the  Federal  Government  made  such  appropriations  for  us, 
thai  it  was  felt  that  there  was  nothing  thai  could  possibly  be  obtained  at  the 
hands  of  this  convention.  i:nt  in  thinking  the  matter  over  again,  we  felt  that 
it  was  a  matter  thai  concerned  us.  thai  it  certainly  concerned  the  whole  Nation, 
one  matter  in  particular  thai  I  shall  refer  to  later.  And  it  was  determined  to 
be  well  repn    i  nt<  d  a1   this  Congress. 

While  I  am  here,  1  wish  to  exti  nd  my  thanks  and  the  thanks  of  Hawaii  to 
the  members  of  this  convention  for  their  work  in  assisting-  us  last  year  in 
bringing  to  a  focus  the  appropriations  for  thai  maud  naval  harbor,  Pearl 
Harbor.      We   thank   also   I  gressmen   who  devoted   their  untiring'  efforts 

in  assisting  us  in  attaining  thai   desired  i 

There  are  three  matters  I  cern   us  about   which   r  will  speak  to  you 

briefly.  One  of  them,  and  one  thai  concerns  us  a  great  deal,  is  the  matter  of 
tariff  revision,  which  will  evidently  take  place  after  the  next  election.  On  this 
we  are  nol  going  to  make  any  special  appeal.  Our  chief  product  is  sugar,  of 
which  we  shall  export  this  year  some  forty  million  dollars'  worth.  AVe  would 
like  to  have  the  tariff  remain  as  it  is.     But,  as  a  loyal  territory  to  this  country, 

we  are  perfectly  Willing  to  join  in  With  others  and  assist,  and  give  all  the  in- 
formation that  w«  possibly  can  ".  h i <•  1 1  will  tend  to  have  our  Congress  revise 
the  tariff  In  such  a  way  that  it  will  assist  all  of  this  country.  Another  matter 
thai   concerns  us  greatly   is  the  matter  of  immigration,     situated   the  distance 

that    we    arc    from    the    mainland,    we    are    not    in    the    position    of    other    tropical 

and  semi-tropical  countries,  w  y  have  a  larger  proportion  of  their  popu- 
lation than  can  be  used  as  laborers.  We  have  to  Import  laborers.  We  are 
overrun  there  with  Japanese.  There  are  some  forty-five  thousand  Japanese 
on  the  plantations,  and  we  consider  them  a  menace,  indeed,  to  Americanizing 
our  territory.  We  have  done  our  utmosl  to  bring  into  that  country  immigrants 
thai  will  turn  oul  true  Americans  and  will  assist  us  in  mil'  work.  So  far,  how- 
ever, we  have  been  blocked.  Fears  ago,  under  the  monarchy  and  under  the 
republic  at  first,  the  Board  of  Immigration  was  allowed  to  import  laborers. 
since  annexation,  we  have  been  allowed,  in  fact  last  year,  to  make  an  im- 
portation    Of    S( ■     four    thousand     Portuguese,     who    Will     make    g I    citizens. 

the   last  Co  would    not   allow   us   to   assist    Immigrants,  but    told   us 

we  could  gel  them  after  they  had  landed  in  New  fork.  We  have  established 
a  bureau  then  .  and  are  willing  to  al  Ide  by  the  laws  and  do  everything  possible 
to    build    up    our   country,    bul     we    think    tl  ould    be    made    some   allowance 

by  which   we  can  assist   our  Immigrants,  si  them  so  as  to  make  it   really 

a  n    A  in  i  nca  n   territory.      We   will    nol    pri  b<  n1    a    resolution   nor  a  recommemia 
tin a    for   a    change   o1    laws     bei  tuse    we    will   abide   by   the   good   will   of   the 
a  mil  ica  n   people  in   thli    conned  Ion. 

Another  mailer  thai  s  us  Is  the  matter  of  the  disappearance  of  the 

ericai rchant    marine   fn  We   down    there   have  a    line   of 

steamships  thai  carry  our  augars  away,  and  it   Is,  I   believe,  the  onl>    large  line 
Ing  the  American   Hag.     On   the   Atlantic  the   flag  has  nearly  disappeared. 

Ii      i        Mere    ;,      n,,\.ll-  I'.  ..|.|e    traveling     upon     the     water,    wishing    tO    -see     tlieil 

OWn     flag,    are    disappoint  ed.        We     Want     a     law    such    that    B     Subsidy,    Or    a    small 

subsidy,  will  be  granted,  thai  win  so  build  up  the  American  shipping  that  it 
win   not  be  necessary  for  our  navs    to  be  followed  around   by  colliers  carrying 

foreign   flags   to  supply   them   fuel   on   their  voyages.     There  are   ] pi,.  [n  the 

.Middle  West  who  do  not.  as  1  u  nde  is  t  a  n ,  I  verj  thoroughly  comprehend  the 
situation  with  reference  to  American  shipping.  I  am  told  that  a  bill  would 
have   passed    the    la  bul    thai    Beven    votes    were    lacking.     The   votes 

of   the    Pacifli    i  .        ■    bul    some   of    the   Interior  states  could   not 

understand   how   vltallj    important    Is  rican  commerce  upon    the   Pacific, 

or  how    rapidly    it    is   being    wiped   out.      v-  an   aggressive   nation    In    the 

Japanese  activity   striving  for  the  supremacy   of  thl  Tf  the  American 

people  ke.p  .,11  going  as  thej  have  been  going,  the  supremacy  of  the  ocean 
will  easilj  K<<  to  the  Japanese.  We  want  the  American  dag  to  be  there,  and  we 
want  the  c more,    t,,  t.e  Ami  rican.     We  do  nol   want  Buch  a  condition  to  arise 


JAMES   F.   MORGAN,   Honolulu,   T.   H. 
Vice-President  for  Hnvraii. 


vr< 


•       TRANS-MISSISSIPPI    COMMERCIAL    CONGRESS  47 

as  that  the  American  flag  will  be  a  novelty  as  it  is  upon  the  Atlantic.  The 
people  of  the  Middle  West  should  realize  this,  and,  through  their  representa- 
tives, aid  us  in  this  matter.  We  do  not  want  to  assist  in  building  up  a 
Japanese  commerce.  If  conditions  keep  on  as  they  are  going,  it  will  be  a  novel 
spectacle  to  the  world  at  large.  This  nation  will  appear  as  a  nation  of 
mighty  people,  a  nation  of  progressive  people,  a  nation  of  eighty  millions  of 
people  who  are  simply  marooned  on  their  own  continent,  and  not  having 
vessels  enough  to  supply  their  commerce. 

A  resolution  has  been  prepared  by  the  delegation  from  Hawaii  which  will 
be  presented,  asking  you  to  assist  us,  as  you  did  with  the  Pearl  Harbor  appro- 
priation, toward  the  rehabilitation  and  the  growth  of  American  commerce 
upon  the  Pacific  Ocean. 

I    thank    you.      (Applause.) 

By   President  Case: 

We  have  in  store  for  you  this  evening  an  entertainment  of  a  decidedly 
educational  kind.  The  National  Government  in  the  Reclamation  Service  will 
be  represented  here  tonight  by  moving  pictures  of  the  irrigation  plants,  of 
the  different  canals,  also  of  the  things  of  interest  now  being  constructed 
by  the  National  Government,  together  with  a  lecture  explaining  each  picture 
by  Hon.  C.  J.  Blanchard,  chief  statistician  of  the  Reclamation  Service. 
To  those  of  you  who  have  not  seen  those  pictures,  I  want  to  assure  you  that 
you  will  have  a  treat.  I  know  that  you  will  be  greatly  pleased  with  them.  The 
entertainment  will  begin  this  evening  promptly  at  eight  o'clock.  You  are  all 
invited,  and  your  neighbors,  and  we  hope  that  we  will  have  a  full  house. 

Tomorrow's  program  will  be  announced  in  the  morning  papers.  It 
will  be  an  interesting  one.  We  shall  have  a  great  many  distinguished 
men  with  us. 

Is  there  any  announcement  you  desire  to  make,  Mr.  Secretary? 

By  Secretary  Francis: 

Tomorrow  there  is  the  resolution  hour,  and  all  delegates  having  reso- 
lutions must  prepare  them  in  triplicate,  one  for  the  official  record,  one  for 
the  Secretary,  which  goes  to  the  committee,  and  one  for  the  newspapers. 
The  Committee  on  Resolutions  should  be  called  together  by  some  member 
of  that  body,  and  proceed  to  work  as  soon  as  possible.  Some  member  of  it 
should  arrange  for  a  place  of  meeting.  The  same  thing  applies  to  the 
Committee  on  Permanent  Organization.  In  the  absence  of  any  place  to 
meet,  or  any  selection,  the  Congress  offers  the  room  in  front  of  the  building, 
with  sufficient  capacity  to  accommodate  fifty  members. 

By  a  Delegate: 

There   seems  to   be   no   one  requesting  a  meeting  of   the   Resolutions' 
Committee.    I  suggest  that  it  meet  in  the  room  in  the  front  of  this  building 
at  nine  o'clock  tomorrow  morning,  if  there  is  no  objection  to  that. 
By  the  President: 

If  there  is  no  objection,  members  who  have  been  selected  from  the 
various  states  on  the  Committee  on  Resolutions  will  meet  at  nine  o'clock 
tomorrow  morning.  We  will  now  adjourn  until  tomorrow  morning  at  ten 
o'clock. 


THIRD  SESSION 

Tuesday,   October  6,   1908. 
By    Vice-President    Pryor,    San    Antonio.    Texas: 

According  to  the  program  arranged  for  tonight,  we  adjourned  this 
afternoon  until  8  o'clock,  at  which  time  Mr,  C.  J.  Blanchard  of  the  Recla- 
mation Service  was  to  give  us  some  stereopticon  views.  He  is  the  statistician 
of  this  Service,  and  could  explain  all  the  details  in  the  way  of  irrigation 
and  reclamation  service  if  he  were  here.  Unfortunately  his  slides  have 
not  arrived,  and  the  exposition  of  this  will  have  to  be  put  off  until  tomorrow- 
night. 

The  Congress  will  now  come  to  order,  and  after  handling  some  routine 
business,  I  will  call  on  some  gentleman  for  short  addresses  which  I  hope 
will  be  entertaining  to  you.  The  Secretary  will  occupy  the  time  of  the 
convention  for  a  few  minutes. 

(The  Secretary  called  the  roll  of  the  various  states  and  territories  for 
the  organization  of  the  committees  of  the  Congress.) 

By   Vice-President   Pryor: 

The  Secretary  will  now  read  his  report. 

REPORT    OF   THE    SECRETARY. 

M\    Spcrctiirj    I'rniicis: 

Mr.    Chairman    and     members    of     the     Executive     Committee    of    the     Trans- 
Mississippi  Commercial  Congress: 

Gentlemen:  I  herewith  submit  my  reporl  of  receipts  and  disbursements. 
Permanent  memberships  at    $5.00   i  a  \  <■   been    received   as    fellows: 

J.  R.  Case,  Abilene,  Kansas:  i;.  .\i.  Bressie,  Bressie,  Okla. ;  Ike  T.  Pryor. 
San  Antonio,  Texas;  R.  C.  Spaulding,  Ardmore,  <d<la.:  (loo.  A.  Swink,  Rockv 
Ford,  Colorado;  John  Henry  Smith,  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah;  George  a.  Smith, 
Salt  Lake  City.  Utah;  Richard  W.  SToung,  Sail  Lake  <'itv.  Utah;  Geo,  Romney, 
Salt  Lake  City,  Utah ;  s.  < ».  Bennion,  Sail  Lake  City,  Utah;  W.  F.  Baker,  Council 
Bluffs.  Iowa;  Levi  linker,  Shenandoah,  Iowa;  ll.  McCartney,  Thurman,  Iowa; 
James  V.  Tully.  Glencoe,  N.  M  ;  B.  Magoffin,  Duluth,  Minn.;  W.  R.  Pace,  Laredo! 
Texas;  Ed.  F.  Harris,  Galveston,  Texas;  Walter  K.  Frear,  Honolulu.  T.  H.:  Geo! 
II.  Monroe,  Joliot,  111.:  I ».  P,  Marum,  W Iward,  Okla.;  John  J.  Gerlacli.  Wood- 
ward, Okla.;  Henry  T.  Clarke,  Omaha,  Neb.;  .1.  M.  Guild,  Omaha,  Neb.;  Alva 
Adams.  I'ucido,  ('.dorado;  'I'oin  I iicha rdson.  Portland,  Oregon;  E.  L.  Whitney, 
Secy.,  Herington,   Kansas    J.  s.   Kerr,  Secy.,  Galveston.  Texas;  T.  w.  Tomlinson! 

Denver.  Colorado;  Geo.  M.  Morgan,  si.  Louis,  Mo.;  H.  P.  w I.  Honolulu,  T.  H.; 

W.  H.  Lape,  Coffeyville,  Kansas;  F.  A.  Williams.  Denver,  Colorado:  Lawrence 
M.  Joins.  Kansas  City,  Mo. ;  Amedee  B  Cole,  St.  Louis,  Mo.;  Anton  II.  Classon, 
Oklahoma  City,  Okla.;  Herberl  Strain,  Great  Falls,  Mont.;  Walker  Hill,  St. 
Louis,  Mo.;  Frank  E.  Schlater,  Plattsmouth,  Nebraska;  Bruce  M.  Priddy, 
Kansas  City,  Mo.;  ll.  a.  Tukey,  Omaha,  Neb  Geo.  M.  Perine,  San  Francisco' 
CaL;  Wm.  J.  Tod,  Maple  Mill.  Kansas;  \v.  \\\  Turney,  El  Paso,  Texas;  F.  B. 
Thurber,  New  York  City,  N.  v..  Arthur  F.  Francis,  Cripple  Creek,  <v>iorado- 
J.  B.  Whlttier,  Decatur,  Neb.;  W.  L.  Wright,  Pomona,  CaL;  F.  C.  Dreseher,  Sac- 
ramento, CaL;  E.  R.  Lllienthal,  San  Francisco,  CaL;  F.  J.  Coster,  San  Kran- 
cisco,  Cal.;  I  >.  R.  Francis,  St.  Louis,  Mo.;  L.  A.  Desmond,  Highland,  San  Ber- 
nardino County,  CaL;  W.  L.  Steinweg,  North  Yakima.  Wash.;  N.  ll.  Latimer, 
Seattle,  Wash.:  M.  F.  Henderson,  Portland,  Ore.;  N,  <;.  Larimore,  North  Dakota; 
Wm.  I-'.  Herrln,  San  Francisco,  CaL;  Henry  <;.  w.  Dinkelspiel,  San  Francisco, 
CaL;  Richard  A.  Riepe,  Ely,  Nevada;  w.  I ».  Simmons,  si.  Louis,  Mo.;  A.  L. 
Stetson,  l. os  Angeles,  CaL;  W.  F.  i:.  Mills,  Denver,  Colorado;  Theo.  B.  Wilcox, 
Portland,  Ore.;  X.  M.  Tabor,  Denver,  Colorado;  s.  I..  Kline,  Corvallis,  Oregon; 
<  v  ll.  Bessent,  Norman,  Okla.;  Robert  Newton  Lynch,  Petaluma,  CaL;  E.  E 
Brehm,  Seattle,  Wash.;  Phineas  F.  Ferguson,  San  Francisco,  Cal  i '.  ll.  W. 
Ross.  Ellensburg,  Wash.;  A.  B.  Poole,  Topeka,  Kansas;  J.  T.  McChesney, 
Everett.  Wash.;  .loin,  w.  Noble,  St.  I, .oils,  Mo.;  J.  H.  Brady,  Pocati  o  Idaho. 
a.  M.  Conard,  Nogales,  Arizona;  Aaron  Gove,  Denver,  Colo.;  R.  I ..  Northup! 
|..i.i.   Kansas;  James  M.  Brlnson,  Crippb    Creek,  Colo.;  J.   w.  Creech,  I  i>i  ington' 

Kansas;     .las.     i '.     Morrow,     Washington,      Kansas;     S.     <  '.      !•;.      Holland.     Victoria] 

Texas;    R.   < '.    Kerens,   si.    Louis,   Mo.;    Will   C,    Barnes,    Albui  x.  M.;  W. 

s.  Collins,  Basin,  Wyoming;  B.  Rockwell,  Junction  City,  Kansas;  Charles  A. 
Stokes,  Denver,  Colorado;  E.  ll.  Forney,  Abilene,  Kansas:  Truman  G.  Palmer, 
Washington,  I  >.  C;  Jessi    Knight,  Provo,  Utah;  <:.  j,  Tansey,  st.  Rouis,  Mo.;  M.' 


TRANS-MISSISSIPPI    COMMERCIAL    CONGRESS 


49 


B.  Augustin,   Seattle,,  Wash.;  W.  M.  Ladd,   Seattle    Wash  ■  R    T     n»rrni»    Twt 

Sfr  GS:^bffilX¥T■B50^*^•^*»^  SenSim;  Deny™'  Coo1: 
lado,  Geo.  T.  Odell  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah;  James  F.  Callbreath  Denver  Colo  • 
B.  A.  Lockwood,  Des  Moines,  Iowa;  Thomas  Burke,  Seattle  Wash  '  L  R 
Seeley,  Portland,  Ore.;  Geo.  F.  Fry  Crinole  Creek  fnin  ■  p  w  -a"  ■  • 
Oakland,  Cal.;  J.  M  Wright,  Cripple'  Cree^  Colofrien^T.  OxSVd^oKd' 
Cal.;  Thomas  F.  Walsh,  Denver,  Colo.;  Peter  Log-g-ie  North  R^iJ i  v££ ■ 
Chas.   A.    Fellows,    Los   Angeles,    Cal.;    D.    P.    Khigsley  ^New -York   City.'  ' 

Receipts. 

June      29,   1907.        Balance     .  .    ,n  „n 

April      25,1908.        Books     (John    W.    Noble)     .'.'.'. innn 

July        1.1908.        Membership  Fee  1909    (Geo.  H.  Monroe).':".""  500 

July         1,   1908.        Membership   Fee   1909    (Geo.   M.    Perine)  £00 

July         1,   1908.       Membership   Fees    .    .    ....'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.\'.\    540.00 

„.  ,  $600.00 

Disbursements. 

Nov.  8,1907.  Supplies     (W.    D.    Armstrong)     $19  00 

Jan.  15,1908.  Midland  Terminal   ....                          3  38 

Jan.  17,   1908.  Stenographer  Salary  (M.  P.  Marsh)  1'nn 

Jan.  20,1908.  P.O.Box *« 

Jan.  22,    190S.  Typwriting    (R.    C.    Franks) "  10  00 

Jan.  22,1908.  Midland    Terminal     2  70 

Feb.  1,1908.  Stenographer  Salary    '"  sn'oo 

Feb.  8,1908.  Printing   (Star  Publishing  Co.)..  ..'..'.  .'.'""""  300 

Feb.  15,  1908.  Postage   and  Clerical   Work "  45'nn 

Feb.  19,1908.  Telegram      40 

March  1,   1908.  Stenographer   Salary    50'oO 

March  2,1908.  Printing    (Star    Publishing    Co.) 2*00 

March  9,1908.  Framing    Pictures    '    "  240 

March  14,   1908.  Manila    Envelopes     250 

March  17,   1908.  Typewriting    (Bertha   Briney)    44  00 

April  1,1908.  Stenographer    Salary     '"  50  00 

April  1,   1908.  Printing   (Star  Publishing  Co.)    '       '  s'oo 

April  1,    1908.  Freight  (Midland  Terminal)    17  11 

April  1,   1908.  P.    O.    Box    '60 

April  2,1908.  Supplies '60 

April  4,1908.  Supplies    l'l5 

April  14,   1908.  Typewriting    (H.   R.    Kuni)    5  00 

April  24,   1908.  Typewriting    (J.   F.Morrison)    25  00 

April  29,   1908.  Framing   Pictures    (J.   M.   Ovren)    1.35 

April  29,1908.  Supplies    (H.    J.    Mvers)     1.00 

May  1,   1908.  Stenographer   Salary    50.00 

May  2,   1908.  Telephone    (Walsh)    2.40 

May  15,   1908.  Printing    (Star    Publishing   Co.)     4.50 

May  18,   1908.  Membership    (National    Geographic    Society) 2.00 

June  1,   1908.  Western   Union   Telegrams    13.44 

June  1,1908.  Wells  Fargo  &  Co.    (Express)    38.04 

June  1,   1908.  Bank   Exchange   and   Postage    7.50 

Aug.  3,   1908.  Postage    (Danford)     32.32 

$462  99 
Interest    acct.    Note    Kansas    City    Session    12    months     7^20 

$556.19 
Balance     43.81 

Bills  Unpaid. 

July  1,  1908. 

Cripple   Creek   State   Bank,   acct.  K.   C.   Session $475.00 

Smith-Brooks,  printing  acct.,  St.  Louis  Session 273.35 

Total    Indebtedness    $746.35 

ACTION   OF   CONGRESS   UPON   RECOMMENDATIONS. 

One  of  the  important  recommendations  of  the  last  session  of  this  Congress 
was  that  in  reference  to  National  finances,  being  a  reflex  action  incident  to  the 
financial  flurry  under  which  the  country  labored  whilst  the  Congress  was  in 
session.  The  recommendations  bore  weight,  coming  from  a  commercial  body 
just  at  that  time,  composed  of  delegates  from  all  the  leading  Chambers, 
Boards  of  Trade,  and  Commercial  clubs  west  of  the  Mississippi  River.  The 
result  was  the  appointment  of  a  Currency  Commission  by  the  National 
Congress  in  conformity  with  the  Aldrich-Vreeland  Bill.  This  commission  has 
been  at  work  during  the  year  and  will  present  its  report  at  the  next  session 
of  the  National  Congress. 


50  REPORT    OF    PROCEEDINGS 

KeviNlon    of    the    .Schedule. 

Another  recommendation  of  importance  was  that  made  to  Congress  to 
provide  a  non-partisan  Tariff  Commission.  This  led  to  the  Tariff  Committee 
selected  from  the  Finance  Committee  of  the  Senate  and  the  Ways  and  Means 
Committee  of  the  House.  This  recommendation  contemplates  the  revision 
of  the  schedule  upon  such  items  as  livestock,  wood  pulp,  zinc  ores,  etc.,  in 
which  the  business  interests  of  the  Western  States  are  particularly  interested. 
This  committee  has  also  been  at  work  and  will  he  ready  to  report  at  the 
coming    session    of    the    Congress. 

Pearl     Harbor. 

One  of  the  most  important  features  of  the  last  session,  as  you  will  remem- 
ber,  was  that  in  reference  to  Pearl  Harbor.  An  influential  delegation  from 
the  Territory  of  Hawaii,  headed  by  Governor  Frear,  took  an  active  part. 
As  a  result,  it  was  strongly  recommended  to  the  National  Congress  that  the 
channel  of  Pearl  Harbor  be  widened,  deepened  and  straightened  and  that 
other  improvements  be  made  for  the  defense  of  the  island.  President  Roosevelt 
incorporated  this  recommendation  in  his  message,  and  your  Secretary  for- 
warded to  the  Senate  and  House  certified  copies.  The  Hawaiian  delegation, 
which  remained  in  Washington  during  the  winter  co-operated  with  the 
Congressional   Committee   of   this   body.     This   resulted   in   an   appropriation    of 

$3,000,000,   of   which    $lnii, was    made   available.     The   work   covered   by   the 

dredging  contract  is  to  be  completed  in  thirty-six  months.  Proposals  for 
the  dredging  will  he  opened  December  1st.  The  entire  improvement  will 
approximately  cost  $2,500,000.  In  addition,  through  the  labor  of  Governor 
Frear  and  his  associates,  Hawaii  obtained  $800,000  for  a  breakwater  at 
Hilo.  What  Hawaii  now  asks  is  a  complete  application  of  the  land  laws 
so  far  as  they  are  applicable  to  the  islands,  and  in  conformity  with  the 
desire,  Chief  Engineer  Newell,  who  was  to  have  been  with  us  today,  has 
been  dispatched  by  Secretary  Garfield  to  the  island  for  an  expert  examination, 
the  findings  of  which   will  be  submitted  to  the  National  Congress  this  winter. 

Enlargement    of    Claims. 

Recommendations  were  also  made  for  an  enlargement  of  claims  in  some 
arid  states,  and  these  were  incorporated  in  the  Smoot  Bill.  It  authorizes  the 
taking  of  homesteads  of  320  acres  of  arid,  non-mineral  and  non-irrigable 
lands,  and  applies  to  Colorado,  Montana,  North  Dakota,  Nevada,  Oregon,  Utah, 
Washington,    Wyoming,   Arizona   and   New    Mexico. 

Arkansas  River  and   Restrictions. 

The  result  of  the  session  a  year  ago  is  very  satisfactory  as  the  delegates 
from  Oklahoma  in  this  Congress  will  cheerfully  admit.  Primarily  the 
Congress  was  called  to  meet  in  Muskogee  for  the  good  it  could  do  the 
Arkansas  Riser  and  also  to  emphasize  the  necessity  for  the  removal  of 
restrictions.  Incidentally  President  Roosevelt  co-operated  in  the  success 
of  the  meeting  by  signing  the  Act  proclaiming  statehood  for  Oklahoma, 
three  days  prior  to  the  opening  of  the  Congress,  and  by  a  personal  repre- 
sentative participating  in  the  Congress  itself.  The  ceremony  incident  to 
this  Act  creating  the  new  State  was  witnessed  by  an  audience  of  upward  of 
7,000,  at  which  there  were  gathered  the  Governor  and  officials  of  surrounding 
states  and  representatives  of  the   j.  Government.    This  historic  gathering 

was  presided  over  by  Colonel  II.  I >.  Loveland  of  San  Francisco.  In  the 
concrete,  the  results  of  that  meeting  have  demonstrated  the  navigability  of 
the  Arkansas  River,  and  have  don.-  mu<h  to  establish  Muskogee  as  the  head  of 
navigation  for  that  stream.  The  Government,  upon  your  recommendation, 
made  a  liberal  provision,  and  snag  boats  are  now  at  work  removing  obstruc- 
tions from  the  channel  and  restoring  the  river  to  Its  old  time  prestige  as 
a  navigable  waterway.  A  few  days  since,  your  Secretary  received  information 
from  the  Commercial  Club  al  Muskogee  thai  the  initial  trip  from  Jefferson- 
viile,  ind.,  of  the  steamboat  "City  of  Muskogee,"  bringing  'ui.000  pounds  of 
freight  and  a  passenger  list  of  L26,  was  a  complete  success.  The  bill  for  the 
removal  of  restrictions  from  freed  men  and  Indian  lands  was  signed  by  the 
President,  May  27th,  and  by  this  Act  restrictions  were  removed  from  nearly 
<t. 000, 000  acres  of  land,  and  $i'i>i>, 000,000  worth  of  property  was  placed  upon 
the    tax   list   of   the   new    State. 

Department   of   Mlaea. 

The  past  year  has  shown  considerable  progress  in  the  work  of  the 
Congress  for  representation  In  the  National  Government  of  a  Department 
of    Mines    and    Mining.       Your    Vice-Fresh  Mr.    James     l\    i\illbreath    Jr., 

of  Denver,  Colorado,  who  is  the  efflcienl  secretary  <d'  the  American  Mining 
Congress,  appealed  before  the  Committee  on  Mines  and  Mining,  in  behalf  of  a 
Bureau  of  Mines.  Your  distinguished  Chairman  of  the  Executive  Committee, 
the  Hon.  Thomas  F.  Walsh,  also  appeared  before  the  same  Committee  in 
behalf  of  a  bureau  which  was  recommended  by  the  Oklahoma  session  of  this 
body,  following  the  meeting  of  the  American  Mining  Congress  at  Joplin, 
Missouri. 


ARTHUR    F\    FRANCIS. 
Secretary    ti»    the    Congress. 


THE 


VJ 


OF 


CAL 


FOSjfi! 


TRANS-MISSISSIPPI    COMMERCIAL    CONGRESS  51 

This  bill  for  a  Department  of  Mines  passed  the  House  of  Representatives 
and  is  now  upon  the  Senate  calendar  for  early  action  in  December.  In  con- 
nection with  this  legislation,  Chairman  Walsh  appeared  before  the  Committee 
on  Resolutions  of  one  of  our  great  political  parties  in  Chicago,  and  the  result 
was  a  plank  in  the  platform  favoring  the  Bureau  of  Mines.  The  chairman 
of  your  Congressional  Committee  and  other  executive  officials  of  the  Congress 
did  the  same  service  at  Denver  with  equally  satisfactory  results  so  far  as 
the  expression  of  the  candidate  went.  It  is  now  extremely  probable  that  a 
Bureau,  at  least,  will  be  properly  established,  equipped  sufficiently  effective 
to  demonstrate  the  necessity  of  a  Department  of  Mines,  co-ordinate  with 
the  Department  of  Agriculture,  to  which  this  organization  has  pledged  itself 
since    its    inception. 

Postal    Savings    Bank. 

Another  recommendation  which  received  the  immediate  attention  of 
President  Roosevelt  in  his  message,  was  the  proposition  for  a  Postal  Savings 
Bank.  This  was  presented  in  both  houses,  but  the  law  failed  of  passage 
because  of  the  anxiety  of  Congress  for  an  early  adjournment.  This  is  another 
measure   which    is   on   the   calendar  for   early   action   in   December. 

Inland    Waterway    Commission. 

Resolutions  had  been  presented  by  the  delegation  from  the  Memphis 
Deep  Water  Conference,  indorsing  a  14-foot  channel  from  New  Orleans  to 
Chicago  and  an  annual  appropriation  of  at  least  $50,000,000  for  internal 
improvements,  and  the  unanimous  sentiment  of  the  country  upon  this  subject 
expressed  at  former  sessions  of  this  body  had  previously  resulted  in  the 
appointment  of  an  Inland  Waterway  Commission.  Your  Oklahoma  recom- 
mendations, with  similar  action  upon  the  part  of  other  representative 
bodies,  were  submitted  to  this  Commission.  The  activity  which  this  new 
field  of  investigation  created,  precltided  any  action  of  Congress  in  reference 
to  Rivers  and  Harbors  last  winter,  and  the  usual  River  and  Harbor  Bill  was 
held  in  abeyance  pending  the  investigation.  For  this  reason,  your  Secretary 
has  no  further  report  to  make  relative  to  the  rivers  and  harbors  further 
than  that  these  recommendations  which  were  passed  indorsing  improvements 
on  the  Missouri,  the  Red.  and  Trinity  rivers,  the  Columbia.  Snake,  the 
Sacramento  and  San  Joaquin,  the' Brazos  and  Coos  Bay,  the  Galveston  and 
other  channels,  the  Inter-Coastal  Canal,  the  Lake  Superior  and  the  Mississippi 
Canals  and  the  Sabine  Lake  Ship  Canals  are  in  the  hands  of  the  proper 
committees,  where  bills  have  been  formulatd  for  Congressional  action.  In 
reference  to  Galveston,  however,  the  National  Congress  in  response  to  your 
appeal    directed    an    immediate    survey    of   the   harbor. 

The  National  Congress  itself  is  undecided  as  to  the  disposition  of  these 
matters,  and  will  so  continue  pending  action  as  to  the  powers  of  the  Inland 
Waterway  Commission.  When  the  Administration  and  the  scientific  experts 
resolved  upon  the  thorough  analysis  of  the  subject  of  internal  improvements, 
the  conclusion  contemplated  a  larger  field  of  action.  President  Roosevelt 
recognizing  the  importance  of  suggestions  from  expert  authorities  upon  this 
matter,  called  together  a  conference  of  all  the  Governors  of  the  various  states, 
to  which  the  President  of  this  body  was  also  invited.  That  conference, 
unique  in  history,  resulted  in  another  commission,  known  as  the  Commission 
for  the  Conservation  of  Natural  Resources.  There  is  a  disposition  upon  the 
part  of  the  Administration,  not  to  favor  any  appropriation  of  money  unless 
the  expenditures  can  be  made  along  scientific  lines  and  under  the  direction 
of  a  pronerly  created  commission.  This  new  policy  involves  not  only  the 
navigability  of  the  streams  but  the  question  of  flood  waters,  the  construction 
of  storage  reservoirs  at  the  headwaters,  bank  erosion  upon  streams,  the 
utilization    of   power,    etc. 

The  conservation  plans  of  the  Government  must  be  settled  first  before 
there  is  any  further  legislative  activity  along  these  lines.  Chairman  Burton 
of  the  Committee  of  Rivers  and  Harbo'-s.  in  asking  unanimous  consent  for 
the  passage  of  the  bill  re-creating  the  Inland  Waterway  Commission,  tersely 
expresses  the  existing  conditions  when  he  said,  "We  hope  to  accomplish  a 
degree  of  order  where  now  a  degree  of  chaos  exists."  The  Senate,  however, 
failed    to    concur. 

The  delegation  appointed  at  the  request  of  the  Memphis  Conference  to 
proceed  with  the  committee  to  Washington  and  attend  the  Rivers  and  Harbors 
Congress  in  December  last,  fulfilled  its  task,  and  reports  the  adoption  of  a 
resolution  calling  for  an  expenditure  of  at  least  $50,000,000  annually,  for 
the  work  of  Internal  Improvements.  This  delegation,  by  special  appointment, 
met  Speaker  Cannon  and  effectively  presented  this  matter,  with  the  result 
that  it  went  to  the  National  Congress  emphasized  by  a  message  from  the 
President  calling  for  legislation  that  would  establish  and  operate  the  Inland 
Waterway  Commission.  Among  the  projects  directly  affected  is  the  Lake- 
to-the-Gulf  14-foot  channel.  The  recommendations  and  the  message  from  the 
President  led  to  a  report  which  took  the  shape  of  the  Newlands  Bill,  intro- 
duced by  the  distinguished  Senator  from  Nevada,  which  not  only  provides 
for  an  annual  fund  of  $50,000,000,  but  provides  also  for  the  issuance  of  bonds 


52  REPORT    OF    PROCEEDINGS 

when  this  fund  shall  fall  below  $20,000,000.  It  also  makes  co-ordinate  the 
navigation  of  rivera  with  other  uses  "f  the  waters  in  connection  with  im- 
provements  for    the   promotion   of   commerce   among-   the   states. 

The   Columbia    River. 

It  win  be  a  matter  of  congratulation  !■>  tin-  delegates  of  this  Congress 
i"  learn  thai  the  public  improvement  at  the  mouth  of  the  Columbia  River, 
in  which  this  organization  lias  taken  such  a  deep  Interest,  is  accomplishing 
desired  results.  Under  the  beading,  "Great  Vessels  and  a  Great  River,"  the 
Portland  "Oregonian"  of  Tuesday,  September  22d,  this  year  H90S)  prints  a 
most  remarkable  stm-v  nf  the  development  of  the  Columbia  River,  The  In- 
creased depth  of  thai  great  stream  from  Portland  to  the  ocean  since  Septem- 
ber and  October,  1888,  as  compared  with  September  of  190S,  has  made  it 
possible  for  five  vessels  to  carry  a  greater  1.  ad  than  was  possible  for  a 
Heel    of   fourteen    vessels   twenty   years   ago.     The   "Oregonian"   says: 

"The  steamships  'Falls  of  Nlth'  and  'Cambrian  King'  and  t  lie  British 
bark  'Andorinha'  crossed  out  of  the  Columbia  carrying  616,576  bushels  of 
wheat.  They  were  preceded  a  few  days  ago  by  the  steamships  'Braemont' 
and  'Queen  Amelia'  with  402,206  bushels.  The  draft  of  the  big  trio  sailing 
yesterday  ranged  from  u:;  feet  7  Inches  to  24  feet  8  inches,  and  all  were  taken 
through    from    Portland   to   the   sea   without   the   slightest   detention. 

"As  an  illustration  of  the  remarkable  Improvement  in  the  river  channel 
ii  is  interesting  to  note  that  the  five  vessels  mentioned,  with  cargoes  of 
1,018,782  bushels  of  wheat,  carried  a  greater  tonnage  than  the  combined 
September  and  October,  1888,  fleet  of  fourteen  vessels.  The  total  amount 
of  the  fourteen  cargoes  of  twenty  years  ago  was  1,014,543  bushels,  and  it 
was  necessary  to  lighter  some  of  this  wheat  to  Astoria,  even  the  diminutive 
vessels  of  that  period  being  unable  to  load  to  their  capacity  at  Portland. 
Evidence  of  this  nature  shows  quite  clearly  what  has  been  accomplished  in 
the  past,   and   what  may   be   expected    in    the    future." 

Recommendations  have  been  adopted  by  the  Trans-Mississippi  Commer- 
cial Congress  favoring  the  de<  pening  of  the  Columbia  River,  and  the  Congress 
has  had  representatives  each  year  in  Washington  in  behalf  of  thai  great 
stream.  Past  Presidents  The...  i:.  Wilcox,  of  Portland,  and  Colonel  IT.  D. 
Loveland,  of  San  Francisco,  have  given  this  matter  their  personal  and  ener- 
getic   attention    in    submitting    these    recommendations. 

The    I'uhliv    Domain. 

The  recommendations  affecting  the  grazing  on  public  lands  were  also 
submitted  upon  which  hearings  were  had  by  the  Congressional  and  Senate 
committees.  These  committees  had  also  under  consideration  bills  preventing 
any  advance  in  Interstate  Commerce  rates,  fares  and  charges  except  upon 
the  approval  of  the  Interstate  Commerce  Commissioners,  as  recommended  by 
this  Congress,  and  it  is  expected  thai  these  hills  will  he  acted  upon  favorably 
by  the  Committee  and  will   he  enacted   into  law  this  coming  session. 

Reciprocal  Trade  Agreements. 

For  several  years  this  Congress  has  been  requesting  the  National  Con- 
gress to  authorize  t lie  President  to  negotiate  reciprocal  trade  agreements 
with  other  countries  so  as  to  give  the  United  states  a  greater  foreign  outlet 
for  the  livestock  and  meal  products.  This  subject  will  be  incorporated  in 
the  proposed  legislation,  of  which  it  is  thought  the  commission  to  revise  the 
tariff   schedule    will    recommend. 

Statehood     for    New     Mexico. 

Recommendations  favoring  Immediate  admission  Into  the  Union  of  the 
territory  of  N'.'u  Mexico  took  the  usual  course,  being  referred  to  President 
Roosevelt  and  submitted  to  the  presiding  officer  of  the  Senate,  Mr.  Fair- 
banks, and  speaker  Cannon.  These  also  received  certification  and  went  to 
the  committees  of  both  houses  and  an  early  date  was  arranged  for  the 
bearing.  Former  Governor  Prince  of  New  Mexico,  a  member  of  your  Con- 
gressional C mittee,  accompanied  by  Governor  Curry  and  other  repre- 
sentatives of  the  Territory  made  the  presentation  before  Congress.  They 
also    had    a    conference    with    President     Roosevelt    on    work    incident    to    this 

matter,  resulting  in  an  understanding  on  the  part  of  all  concerned  that 
further  time  of  the  National  Congri  ss  would  no1  be  consumed  in  the  considera- 
tion of  the  hill  for  the  admission  of  New  Mexico,  with  the  assurance  that 
at  the  opening  of  the  session  of  Congress  In  December  the  matter  would 
be  pressed  for  passage,  in  a  personal  interview  with  the  members  of  our 
Congressional  committee,  the  President  gave  the  assurance  thai  there  was 
a  goori  •    for  this  bill  to  become  law  unbss  some  unforeseen  contingency 

should  arise  to  prevent  it.  lie  further  gave  the  committee  to  understand 
that  he  would  take  greal  pleasure  in  not  ..nl\  signing  the  bill,  but  in  with- 
drawing his  recommendation  to  the  bill  for  thi  admission  of  the  territories  of 
Arizona    and    New    Mexico    jointly. 


TRANS-MISSISSIPPI    COMMERCIAL    CONGRESS  53 

Alaska-Yukon-Paeific    Exposition. 

The  resolution  in  behalf  of  the  Exposition  at  Seattle  next  year  was  for- 
warded to  the  President  and  to  the  members  of  Congress,  and  the  result  was 
especially  satisfactory  to  the  officers  of  the  Exposition  Association,  the  city 
of  Seattle  and  the  Northwest  country  generally.  Ample  provisions  were 
made  for  the  erection  of  Government  buildings  and  for  the  Colonial  exhibit. 
The  work  of  the  Congressional  Committee  was  simplified  by  the  action  of  the 
Exposition  officers  themselves,  who  refused  to  make  any  request  upon  the 
National  Government  for  direct  aid  as  in  the  case  of  other  expositions.  It 
was  because  of  this  attitude  that  the  cordial  co-operation  of  Presi" 
Roosevelt   was   obtained    as   was   shown   in   his  message  indorsing  the   project. 

It  will  be  observed  in  such  matters  as  the  Postal  Savings  Bank,  the 
revision  of  schedule,  subvention,  bond  issue  for  internal  improvements,  etc., 
that  these  have  since  become  questions  at  issue  between  the  great  parties  in 
the  existing  national  controversy.  This  may  be  considered  a  high  tribute 
to  this  organization  that  in  its  purely  educational  work  it  has  done  so 
much  towards  moulding  public  thought  so  that  questions  so  long  discussed 
in  a  business  way,  have  become  national  issues,  and  great  parties  are  vying 
with  each  other  in  their  haste  to  place  themselves  in  touch  with  the  popular 
chord. 

Improved    Consular    Service. 

In  the  matter  of  an  improved  consular  service,  which  has  been  the  subject 
of  frequent  recommendations  to  the  National  Congress,  very  decided  progress 
has  been  made  since  the  action  of  President  Roosevelt  in  his  executive  order 
removing  consular  stations  from  the  realm  of  political  controversy.  The 
official  mind  has  now  become  thoroughly  alive  to  the  necessity  of  improving 
this  branch  of  government.  As  a  part  of  the  work  incident  to  an  improved 
service,  large  appropriations  have  been  made  for  the  purpose  of  erecting 
suitable  buildings  for  the  diplomatic  and  consular  representatives  in  China, 
Japan,  Korea,  Russia,  Austria,  Germany,  and  Mexico.  Over  $1,000,000  will  be 
expended  for  consular  buildings  alone,  in  various  parts  of  the  Orient.  There 
is  an  urgent  demand  for  the  energetic  work  along  the  line  of  an  improved 
service,  especially  in  China  and  Japan,  where  the  commercial  interests  of 
this  country  suffer  seriously  because  of  the  lack  of  adequate  representation 
and  because  of  an  inefficiency.  This  condition  of  affairs  appeals  particularly 
strong  to  the  business  interests  of  the  Pacific  Coast  and  the  Pacific  Northwest. 

Your  Secretary  cannot  refrain  from  commending  as  strongly  as  possible 
the  work  of  the  local  executive  committee  having  in  charge  the  preliminary 
arrangements  for  this  Congress.  Hon.  Arthur  R.  Briggs,  the  chairman,  who  is 
also  vice-chairman  of  the  general  executive  committee,  has  spent  the  whole 
of  his  time  and  has  not  spared  any  effort  to  make  this  gathering  a  splendid 
success.  He  has  been  enthusiastically  supported  by  the  commercial  associa- 
tions and  business  men  generally  in  this  laudable  purpose.  Inasmuch  as 
this  Congress  is  the  first  important  gathering  that  has  assembled  in  San 
Francisco  since  the  recent  disaster,  the  business  men  have  generously  re- 
sponded both  with  their  time  and  means.  The  result  of  this  harmonious 
action  and  this  enthusiastic  co-operation  upon  the  part  of  all,  the  hospitality, 
not  only  in  San  Francisco  but  the  entire  state  of  California,  will  be  thoroughly 
demonstrated  to  the  delegates  to  this  Congress  before  returning  to  their 
homes    after    the    final    adjournment. 

It  is  my  painful  duty  to  call  your  attention  to  the  fact  that  death  has 
entered  the  ranks  of  our  permanent  membership,  removing  from  our  midsl 
familiar  and  well  loved  faces.  Early  among  these  was  General  Leon  Jas- 
tremski  of  New  Orleans,  and  J.  C.  Loveran  of  Eureka,  California.  In  April, 
whilst  touring  Palestine,  Mr.  B.  Warkentin  of  Newton,  Kan.,  was  accidentally 
killed  by  a  Syrian  traveler  while  on  the  train  traveling  from  Damascus.  The 
recent  tragic  death  of  Mr.  E.  R.  Lilienthal  of  San  Francisco,  for  whom  the 
entire    state    of    California   sincerely    mourned,    is    yet    fresh    in    your    memory. 

Respectfully    submitted, 

ARTHUR    F.    FRANCIS, 

Secretary  to  the  Congress. 

By   Vice-President   Pryor: 

You  have  heard  the  reading  of  the  Secretary's  report.  Unless  otherwise 
instructed,  we  will  adopt  the  report  and  it  will  become  a  part  of  the 
minutes  of  this  meeting. 

I  desire  to  introduce  to  you  Hon.  Arthur  R.  Briggs,  who  has  witnessed 
in    Washington   the   exhibition   we   have   hoped   to   show   you   tonight, 
will  explain  to  you  briefly  what  you  may  expect  to  see  tomorrow  night,  and 
what  you  can  tell  your  friends.     It  will  certainly  be  in  working  order  by 
tomorrow  night.     I  want  to  say  furthermore  that  it  would  be  a  great  source 


M  KKl'URT    OF    PROCEEDINGS 

of  gratification  to  the  officers  of  this  Congress  if  the  people  of  San  Francisco 
would  turn  out  and  listen  to  the  speeches  that  will  be  made  here  during 
the  balance  of  this  week.  One  of  the  speeches  today  in  particular  was 
highly  instructive,  thoroughly  entertaining,  and  was  well  worth  the  coming 
here  of  every  one  of  the  business  men  of  this  city.  The  morning  papers  will 
give  our  program  for  tomorrow,  will  give  the  names  of  the  speakers,  outline 
the  subjects,  ami  I  believe  it  will  be  of  interest  to  each  and  every  one  of  you 
to  return  tomorrow  morning  and  spend  the  morning  with  us  as  well  as  the 
afternoon.  1  will  now  introduce  to  you  the  Hon.  Arthur  R.  Briggs,  who  will 
explain   t<>   you    what  you   will    see   tomorrow   night. 

REMARKS    OF    llo\.     MiTlllK    R.    BRIGGS,    OF    CALIFORNIA. 
President   <>f  the  California   si:i<«-  Board  of  Trade. 
By    Mr.    B riff ssi 

Mr.  Chairman  and  Ladles  and  Gentlemen:  If  you  feel  disappointed  at  not 
having  the  opportunity  to  hear  Mr.  Blanchard,  T  fear  your  disappointment 
is  only  n  part  of  what  we  experienced.  The  chairman  lias  asked  me  to  make 
this    explanation.    1     pri  thinking    thai     seme    of    you    might    not    want 

to  make  the  experimenl  of  coming  here  again,  by  reason  of  the  failure 
tonight.  While  In  Washington,  In  attendance  on  the  conference  of  Governors 
called  by  the  President.  T  hail  the  opportunity  to  hear  Hie  lecture  given  by 
Mr.  Blanchard  with  his  stereoptlcon  views,  and  am  therefore  ahle  to  speak 
with    knowledge    In    reference    to    it. 

Mr.  Blanchard  is  the  statistician  of  the  Reclamation  Department  under 
Mr.  Newell,  and  is  perfectly  familiar  with  .-ill  the  work  that  has  lieen  done 
during  the  last  few  years  in  thai  department.  He  is  a  very  interesting 
speaker,  with  a  pleasant  personality  and  has  lectures  thai  are  as  instructive 
and  Interesting  as  anything  T  have  i  ver  seen.  As  T  say,  I  attended  the 
lecture  in  Washington,  and  whilst  it  was  given  there  three  or  four  times, 
he  was  obliged  to  Issue  cards  .a"  admission  to  prevent  the  overcrowding  of 
the  hall,  and  the  hall  was  a  very  large  one.  I  say  this  to  you  because  his 
lecture  will  probably  he  given  here  tomorrow  night.  T  hope  every  one 
of  you   will   conic  and   hear  what   Mr.   Blanchard  has  to   say. 

Whilst  T  am  speaking,  T  want  to  say  just  a  word  about  California.  You 
know,  we  Californiana — and  T  presume  yen  are  not  all  Californians  yet, 
but  would  be  if  you  remained  h  re  a  greal  while — we  Californians  never 
miss  an  opportunity  to  talk  about  our  State;  and  it  seems  to  us  who  have 
lived     hei  we    are     iustifted     in     being     enthusiasts    over 

our  State.  Bu1  the  peculiarity  of  California  is  thai  we  are  made  up  of 
people  fri'in  everj  state  in  the  Union;  and  therefore  when  these  Congresses 
convene  In  California,  we  find  thai  our  friends  coming  here  from  the  dif- 
ferent states  all  have  friends  somewhere  in  California  and  largely  in  San 
Francisco.  Therefore,  when  we  have  these  gatherings  they  are  sort  of  family 
gatherings  from  all  parts  of  the  United  states.  We  have  friends  from  every- 
where, and  we  expect  to  find  friends  whenever  any  of  these  assemblages 
meet. 

When  r  came  to  the  state.  California  had  bul  aboul  750,000  people:  that 
was  In  1874.  A  few  of  us  at  thai  early  date  saw  greal  possibilities  for  the 
stale  bul  we  deemed  the  matter  of  Immigration  was  the  thing  above 
all  things  to  be  desired.  We  I  ad  an  empire,  bul  we  had  very  few  people  in  it: 
and  we  had  very  little  develonment  In  the  Interior  of  the  state,  t  can  well 
remember  my  first  trip  down  Into  the  San  Joaquin  Valley.  In  those  days  we 
were  ai.ie  to  purchase  acre  property  all  through  thai  country  at  a  cost  of 
from  $1.25  to  $2.50  per  .ere.  and  we  thought  it  was  \-  rj  dear  at  that.  Tn 
fact,  it  reminded  me  In  those  days  of  the  old  farmer  from  Illinois,  who,  in 
the  early  settb  mi  n1  of  the  Dakotas,  purchased  160  acres  of  land  which  he 
had  never  seen.  After  a  year  or  two  he  wenl  oul  to  look  al  it:  ii  looked  to 
him  so  forbidding  and  so  utterlj  valueless  that  he  made  up  his  mind  he 
would  tret  rid  of  it  at  nnv  Drice  to  anv  man  who  would  take  it.  So  he 
trade,)  eighty  acres  of  it   off  for  a   calf.     Tn   trying   to  gel    the  calf   to  market 

hi  took  it  down  to  the  railroad  station,  and  some  Of  the  new  would-be 
settli  nderfeet,    we     call     then,      who     were     looking     for     homes,    asked 

tl id      gentleman       what     he      thought      of     thai      country;       they      began 

to  ask  III iii  what  he  was  going  to  do  with  this  calf.  He  said  he  was 
going  to  take  it  home  and  sell  it.  The  m»n  said,  "I  would  like  to  know  what 
just    such   a    calf  as   thai    mighl    cost?'      "Well."    the   old    farmer   said.    "I   got 

that    calf    blamed    cheap."      "Well,    how    cheap' Well,    l    give    eighty   acres 

of   Dakota    land    for   it."  man   expressing   surprise,    the   old   farmer   said, 

"And    that    wasn't    the    Pest    of    it.      1    found    when    i    come    to    make    the   deed 

that   the   fool   couldn't    read   nor  write  and    i   gave   him   tl ther  eighty   acres 

along  with  it."     1  thought  aboul    the  San  Joaquin  Valley  the  same  as  this  man 


ARTHUR     R.    BRIGGS,     San     Francisco. 
Vice-Chalrinan    Executive   Committee. 


OF 

UNIV  FY 


TRANS-MISSISSIPPI    COMMERCIAL    CONGRESS  55 

thought  about  Dakota  land.  But  after  a  few  years  the  railroad  went  through 
the  country.  The  land  began  to  develop;  they  began  to  put  water  on  it  and 
today  on  part  of  that  land  is  whore  most  of  the  raisins  in  this  country 
are  produced.  Twenty-five  years  ago  it  would  be  dear  at  $2.50  an  acre 
»n    -n°riay  -ft    ?   T  anywhere   from   one   hundred   to   three   hundred   dollars 

an„a«eV  .That  shows  the,  development  of  the  country  through  irrigation 
and  that  is  only  a  little  illustration  of  what  California  can  do  from  one 
section   of   the   State   to   the   other  if  water  is   obtainable   for    irrigation 

For  many  years  we  thought  it  was  impossible  to  get  irrigation  in 
any  way  except  from  the  streams,  by  gravitation,  as  we  call  it.  But  at  this 
time  that  development  is  going  on  rapidly  throughout  the  State  by  the  use 
of  what  we  call  the  underground  waters,  and  by  the  use  of  the  electric 
power  which  has  been  developed  and  cheap  coal  oil  for  fuel  we  are  develoD- 
lng  underground  waters  and  pumping  them  on  the  land  and  in  that  wav 
irrigating    and    improving    it. 

„   ,J    merely    mention    these    incidents    to    show    how    we    are    developing-    in 
California  and   what  makes   us   think   the   future   of   this  State   is  to  be   °-reit 
(Applause.)  "  »'cclL- 

By  Vice-President  Pryor: 

I  will  now  introduce  to  you  Mr.  George  W.  Dickie,  of  San  Francisco, 
who  will  entertain  you  for  a  few  minutes.  Then  we  will  adjourn.  Ladies 
and  gentlemen,  Mr.  G.  W.  Dickie,  of  San  Francisco. 

REMARKS    BY    MR.    GEO.    W.    DICKIE,    OE    CALIFORNIA. 
By    Mr.    Dickie   of    San    Francisco: 

Your  chairman  has  called  me  up,  as  he  says,  to  entertain  you  for  two 
or  three  minutes.  Well,  now,  it  should  not  be  very  difficult  to  entertain 
so  large  and  intelligent  an  audience  as  this  for  two  or  three  minutes.  I  am 
glad  it  is  only  for  that  time.  I  am  going  to  try  to  interest — perhaps  not 
entertain — the  Trans-Mississippi  Commercial  Congress.  At  another  time 
during  the  meeting  of  the  Congress  here,  I  am  going  to  talk  about  ships 
and  about  Trans-Pacific  commerce.  But  now  I  want  to  tell  you  a  little 
story.  Some  thirty-six  years  ago  a  very  worthy  citizen  of  the  United  States 
endeavored  to  establish  a  line  of  steamships  between  San  Francisco  and 
Australia,  but  he  had  to  abandon  it  a  sadder  and  a  wiser  man  and  devote 
the  rest  of  his  life  to  the  founding  of  an  institution  for  the  protection  and 
care  of  decrepit  people.  I  am  going  to  apply  for  admission  some  day  to  that 
institution.  At  that  time  I  made  a  set  of  plans  for  a  steamship  for  the 
Australian  trade.  After  the  business  fell  through  I  finished  these  plans 
and  took  them  to  an  exposition  that  was  being  held  in  San  Francisco  at  the 
time,  in  1872,  where  Union  Square  now  is,  just  in  front  of  the  St.  Francis 
Hotel.  The  committee  in  charge  of  the  exhibit  looked  at  these  plans  and 
wondered  what  to  do  with  them.  Finally  they  came  to  a  conclusion  which  I 
thought  was  very  foolish  at  the  time,  but  I  think  prophetically  wise  now: 
They  put  them  among  the  Japanese  curiosities.  They  had  another  Japanese 
curiosity  which  they  put  at  the  top  of  them,  and  that  was  the  bust  of 
Beethoven,  the  composer.  One  evening  I  was  going  through  the  exhibition 
behind  some  ladies  and  they  looked  at  these  pictures  and  said,  "It  is  per- 
fectly wonderful  how  expert  the  Japanese  are  in  embroidery.  Just  look 
at  those  embroideries.  Why,  it  is  a  picture  of  a  ship  made  of  embroidery 
by  the  Japanese,  and  that  is  the  figure  of  the  man  who  made  this.  The 
Japanese  are  great  people."  We  have  been  hearing  today  1  think  one  of 
the  most  impressive  addresses  that  I  have  heard  in  regard  to  our  relationship 
to  the  Latin  Republics  south  of  us;  but  our  great  difficulty  I  think  is  going 
to  be  with  Japan.  They  are  indeed  a  wonderful  people.  Only  a  few  days 
ago  a  steamship  of  13,700  tons  sailed  out  of  San  Francisco  harbor,  a  turbine- 
propelled  ship  burning  California  crude  oil,  a  thing  we  have  never  attempted 
to  do  in  this  country  yet.  And  she  was  built  and  equipped  in  Japan  for  the 
very  purpose  of  taking  away  what  has  been  left  to  us  of  the  Trans-Pacific 
trade,  something  worth  considerable.  They  never  lose  an  opportunity, 
these  people,  of  accomplishing  what  they  want  to  do.  Some  eleven  years 
ago  I  went  to  Japan  and  succeeded  in  getting  a  contract  for  the  building  of 
one  ship  for  the  Japanese,  at  that  time,  new  navy.  One  contract  also  was 
secured  for  the  Eastern  shipyards  in  this  country.  But  the  great  bulk  of 
their  contracts  went  to  the  English.  Why?  Because  the  Englishmen  were 
determined  to  have  them,  and  we  did  not  care  anything  about  these 
tracts.  Whilst  I  was  there  I  had  our  minister  telegraph  to  the  Secretary 
of  State  of  our  government,  informing  him  that  the  British  government  had 
notified  the  Japanese  government  that  if  any  part  of  the  programme  that 
they  had  under  consideration  for  the  building  of  new  ships  should  be  placed 
with  English  shipbuilders  it  would  be  considered  an  act  friendly  toward 
the  British  government.  We  got  a  telegram  back  from  the  State  Department 
at  Washington   that   it  was  a  matter  of  no  consequence   to   the  United   States 


56  REPORT    OF    PROCEEDINGS 

government  -where  the  Japanese  government  gol  the  ships  built.  And  that 
was  the  kind  of  thing  we  had  to  fight  with.  We  sometimes  think,  and  I 
have  seen  it  often  stated  in  the  newspapers  that  Japan  is  particularly  favorable 
to  work  from  America.  That  is  not  so — at  least,  so  far  as  my  experience  goes — 
it  is  entirely  untrue.  1  have  found  that  it  required  seven  days  and  negotiations 
by  our  minister  with  their  minister  of  marine  before  I  could  get  inside 
their  navy  departments  at  Tokio — seven  days  each  time  that  I  wanted  to 
go  there.  Whilst  I  was  there  the  British  government  detached  one  of  the  best 
cruisers  from  the  Mediterranean  fleet  and  sent  her  around  to  Yokohama. 
The  captain  had  full  authority  to  spend  as  much  money  as  was  necessary 
to  make  it  very  pleasant  for  the  Japanese  visitors  on  board.  They  had 
fetes  every  day  on  board  that  ship.  One  day  T  thought  I  would  like  to  go, 
so  I  sent  my  card  aboard  to  the  chief  engineer.  He  happened  to  have  read 
some  of  my  writings  that  had  appeared  in  the  magazines  published  in 
London,  and  invited  me  to  the  ship.  Through  that  I  was  invited  to  one  of  their 
gatherings  on  board,  one  that  was  especially  arranged  for  the  entertainment 
of  the  attaches  of  the  Japanese  government.  Walking  with  Admiral  Sato, 
the  late  chief  naval  constructor  of  Japan,  and  the  captain  of  the  cruiser, 
the  admiral  turned  around  to  the  captain  and  said,  "I  understood  that  this 
entertainment  today,  sir.  was  for  naval  officers  and  for  attaches  of  the 
navy  department  of  Japan,  and  here  is  Mr.  Dickie,  an  American  shipbuilder, 
on  board."  The  captain  said,  "That  is  all  right.  Mr.  Dickie  is  in  America 
now,  but  he  was  brought  up  a  British  shipbuilder,"  and  that  made  it  all  right. 
The  next  morning  I  got  a  notice  from  the  navy  department  that  it  would 
not  be  necessary  to  see  the  American  minister  again  when  I  wished  admis- 
sion to  the  navy  department,  because  my  name  had  been  placed  on  the 
privileged  list  and  I  could  go  whenever  I  wanted  to.  This  shows  what  a 
difference  there  is  in  their  attitude  towards  different  people  in  regard  to 
trade. 

And  then  they  are  a  wonderful  people  in  other  respects,  the  quick 
adaptability,  for  instance.  In  the  month  of  March  whilst  I  was  there,  they  gave 
a  garden  party  to  non-residents,  that  is.  people  who  are  in  Japan  important 
enough  to  have  their  minister  propose  their  names.  They  are  received  by 
the  Emperor  and  Empress  on  a  certain  day  in  March;  they  call  it  "Cherry 
bloom  garden  party."  It  is  intended  to  celebrate  the  opening  up  of  the 
bloom  of  the  cherry  tree.  With  the  invitation  that  came  to  me  to  this  party 
was  a  card  stating  what  kind  of  clothes  I  was  to  wear.  I  then  understood 
why  the  residents  were,  not  invited:  Those  who  were  not  residents  could 
borrow  the  clothes  from  the  residents  in  order  to  go.  So  I  borrowed  some 
clothes  to  go  to  this  party.  The  card  said  nothing  about  a  hat.  I  did  not  have 
a  silk  hat  with  me,  and  I  said  to  my  friend,  "I  had  better  go  and  get  a 
silk  hat."  He  said,  "You  are  all  right:  you  do  not  need  a  stiff  silk  hat." 
When  I  got  to  the  railroad  station  all  those  people  there  who  were  not  in 
military  dress  had  on  stiff  silk  hats,  and  I  was  afraid  I  would  have  trouble 
about  it.  However,  when  I  got  into  the  car — into  the  compartment  of  the 
carriage,  as  they  call  it  there — in  the  same  compartment  was  the  Consul 
General  of  the  United  States,  Mr.  Mclvor,  he  had  an  ordinary  regular  silk  hat 
on  just  as  I  had,  and  I  felt  better  about  it.  But  after  the  train  started  he 
said  to  me,  "Mr.  Dickie,  are  you  going  to  the  garden  party?"  I  said,  "Yes." 
He  asked,  "Where  is  your  silk  hat?"  "Why,"  I  said,  "the  president  of  the 
American  Trading  Company  informed  me  it  was  not  necessary."  He  said, 
"You  cannot  get  in  without  a  silk  hat."  Here  I  was  on  the  way  to  Tokio 
and  had  no  silk  hat.  The  people  were  commiserating  me  on  the  disappointment 
I  should  have  in  not  getting  into  the  garden  party.  I  thought  it  would  be 
sad,  but  I  thought  I  might  get  there.  When  I  got  to  Tokio,  as  quickly  as  I 
could  I  hired  a  jinrik  islia  man  and  told  him  to  take  me  to  a  hat  shop. 
In  changing  my  clothes  I  found  I  had  retained  only  some  two  or  three  yen 
in  my  pocket,  and  that  would  not  buy  a  hat.  1  bad  to  go  to  a  shop  just  the 
same.  Going  into  one  of  them  1  looked  around  —  I  was  not  on  speaking 
terms — and  I  saw  some  band  boxes;  but  there  was  nothing  bigger  than  six 
and  three-quarters  and  thai  would  nol  suit.  1  weni  to  another  hat  shop  and  it 
was  just  the  same.  I  told  the  Jinriklsha  man  to  take  me  to  a  big  hat 
shop,  which  he  did.  and  there  there  were  more  hats,  and  there 
was  one  seven  and  three-eighths.  It  fitted  me  beautifully  and 
I  put  my  hat  in  place  of  it  in  the  band  box  and  replaced 
it  where  it  was.  The  Jinriklsha  man  understood  and  he  went 
off  and  J.  was  at  tie'  garden  [■arty  all  light,  with  the  best  looking  hat 
in  the  party.  When  the  party  was  over  I  had  my  Jinriklsha  man  take 
me  back  to  the  hat  shop;  i  took  down  this  band  box.  took  out  my  own  hat 
and  put  back  the  new  one  in  the  hat  box  witli  a  yen.  The  Japanese  who 
kepi  the  store  smiled  all  over  and  said  something  which  I  thought  was, 
"Come  back  when  you  want  another  hat  for  a  garden  party."  They  under- 
stand   business   properly. 

We  have  a  great  problem  light  at  our  front  door  upon  the  Pacific,  and 
that  problem  is  to  be  settled  between  the  United  States  and  Japan.  That 
is  all  I  can   say    to  you  tonight  without    going   Into   the   matters  about  which  I 


TRANS-MISSISSIPPI    COMMERCIAL    CONGRESS  57 

am  going  to  speak  at  another  time.  They  want  me  to  talk  some  other 
evening  on  this  subject,  and  I  hope  you  will  come  and  hear  me.  I  am  going 
to  have  a  very  good  address,  and  I  want  to  say  that  I  am  sure  it  is  the 
desire  of  this  Congress  that  the  people  of  San  Francisco  shall  attend  these 
meetings.  They  will  be  informal  and  sometimes  you  may  be  amused.  It 
is  worth  while  to  spend  a  few  hours  a  day  during  this  week  to  get  in  touch 
with  the  great  problems  that  are  coming  before  this  meeting  and  to  be  resolved 
upon  by  the  Trans-Mississippi  Commercial  Congress.  So  that  these  resolutions 
may  show  a  consensus  of  opinion  and  shall  have  proper  effect  when 
recommendations  are  brought  to  the  attention  of  the  lawmakers  of  the  country, 
Members  of  Congress  will  then  be  able  when  they  look  at  these  resolutions 
to  know  at  once  what  the  people  in  the  great  West  and  in  this  portion  of  the 
country  desire  to  have  done  in  order  that  the  country  may  develop  and 
become  great  and  powerful  as  undoubtedly   it  is  intended  to  be.      (Applause.) 

By  Vice-President  Pryor: 

I  beg  the  privilege  of  the  Chairman  to  say  that  I  left  the  principal  part 
out  of  what  I  was  going  to  say  about  Mr.  Blanchard.  I  wanted  to  say  it  to 
you  but  I  forgot.  The  reason  Mr.  Blanchard  is  not  here  is  because  the 
Government  paraphernalia  to  be  used  was  locked  up  in  the  express  office  and 
he  has  not  been  able  to  get  them.     But  he  will  get  them  tomorrow  morning. 

The  Congress  will  now  stand  adjourned  until  ten  o'clock  Wednesday, 
October  7,  1908. 


FOURTH  SESSION 


Wednesday,   October   7,    1908. 
By   Vice-President   Pryor: 

'iii.   i  win  now  come  to  order.    The  adjournmenl  last  eight  was 

to  10  o'clock  and  it.  i.s  t  j  i  *  -  hour  now  to  present  and  near  the  resolutions 
read.    .Mr.  Secretary,  n  ;ui  the  resolutions  thai  bave  been  presented. 
By  Secretary   Francis: 

Offered  by  Secretary  3    M    Eddj    of  Stockton,  secretary  of  the  California 
Good  Road    A    oclation: 

PI    Ml   H       IIM.IIW    \  \  §. 

\\  i  u.i:  i ; .-- ..        The    publii  ol    the    United    States    In    their    con- 

ntlon,    maintenance    and    administration,    have    nol    ken!    pace    with    other 
ta  t  Ion  In  tl  be  It 

RESOLVED       By   the  Ti  li    Ippl   Commercial   Congress  at  Its   nine- 

teenth annual  set    Ion,  that  the  enorm.  ed  in  thi    transportation  of 

farm  product     and  othei    material  warrants  the  ln- 

menl  of  lari  by  the  National  and  Stat  ments,  to  encout 

the  construction  and  -''i'l  In  the  mail  I  ol   Imj  ithways,  to  reduce 

thai  and 

i: i ..  '  <\ .'.'  i . i  >.     Thai    tiii     Con  demands  such  attention  and  appropria- 

te the  United  and  b  es  of  the 

various  Trans  mIhhIkhIimm  Stat<  rluce  ti  tructlon,  and  guarantee 

iii.    maintenance  mpel 

scientific  and  specialized  engineering,  economic  administration,   strict  account- 
ing,  and    faithful  In    thli  Importanl    public   utilil 

Secretai      Francis  then  read  the  following  resolution: 

B1     1KB    T.    PRYOH     OF     ii.\\ i'l  in. ic      GRAZING. 

BE    it    RESOLVED  e    Tran  >pl    Commercial    Congress    In 

on  October  7th,    1908,   thai    wi  imend   to   tl  gress  of  the   United 

:~  i  r  1 1  <  • :  <  thf  enactmenl  of  la  •  tbly  provide  for  the  regulation 

of  thi    use  of   the  public  grazing    upon    the   publl  I     "f  the   United   States, 

with  to  ■■>    |u   •   and  tionmenl   among   ti..-   users  <>f  ih<- 

public    lands    so    ■■!       to    stimulate    and    encoura  nenl     nf    tin- 

grazing  and  providing   water  :in<i  subject   always  to  the 

right  of  the  hum.    trading  and  other  acqul   Ition  of  title  t..  the  lands  under  the 
land   laws  of  the   United      tates;  and    thai    the   rental   charged   for   thi 
the   grazing    upon  inds    be    made   as    low   ;ih    the   adi  ition    of   tin- 

law   will   permit;   the   profits   ti  n         be   i"  the   localities 

ere  1  he  land  lated  foi    th<    publl.      chool  purpo 

By   Secretary    Francis: 

it  v    ik  i;  T.  PRYOH   '»i     n;\  \s — i>i  TIES   <>i     ie  \  i  i.w  \  \    COMPANIES. 

BE    IT    RESOLVED    by    the    Ti  I  lommercial    Congress,    In 

annual   session  October   .',    1908,   thai    we   recommend  to  the 

Congrei      of   thi     United    Stati  tment    ol    adequate    laws   defining   thi- 

ol    railway    companies,    with  rig    with     reasonable 

promptness   cars    for    the    transportation    ol    frelghl    and  able 

hi   like  llvestocl      I      H     n  ind  to  requln    prompl   tran   ports 

obedience   <>f    such    law, 
and    empowering    thi     Intel    tate    Con  Commission    to    make    rules 

■  ii la  tlons   .  ..ii.  .i  n  i  n  •>■    the    same, 

By   Secretary    Francis: 

n\     [KE     i       PRYOH     OF    Tl    \\ RECIPROCITY. 

BE    it    RESOLV1  D    by    the    1  Co                     Congress    In 

:i  nnua  i  i  esslon  i                                  •  e  the  principles 

ol   reclprocH                      icted   Ii  to  the  end  thai   thi    tariff  schedules 

be  made  so  adju   table  thai   the  Pn  Ii  <•>  ol   the  United  Statei   shall   b<    enabled 

liter   l nt ii   reelpi  ocn  i    t  which    will 

adml!    to   the   wldesl    pi  with    tl                tenance    of  the 

Industries   of   this   •  iducts 

of    our    farms,    foi  lock    and                                  ■  ■  i 

manufacturei    as   can    bi     pro  I;    and    thai    In    thi             I    of    the 
establishment  ol    i  minimum  scheduli    of  duties,  thai   the  same  be  made  upon  a 

truly    reclpi bs   I  opportunity    to    negotiate    commer. 

ments, 


TRANS-MISSISSIPPI    COMMERCIAL   CONGRESS  50 

By   Secretary    Francis: 

IIV    1KB    T.    PRYOH    OF    TEXAS — INTERSTATE    TRANSPORTATION     OF 

FREIGHT. 

BE  it  RESOLVED  by  the  Trail  \H\  I  Ippl  Commercial  Congn  il 
San  Francisco,  In  annual  session  October  7,  1908,  thai  wi  recommend  to 
the  Congress  of  the  United  States  thi    i  nai  tmi  til   of  ■■>   law  which   will   require 

thai    ;i  1 1    tariffs,   changei     In    els     Iflcatlon,    rul gulatlon  lei      iff  eel 

.•in  advance   In   the    rates  oi    chargi    ,   dlrectlj    oi    Indirectly,   for   the   Interstate 


made,    and    If    upon    such    Invi    tlgation    the    Comml  slon    shall    determine    thai 

i  he  same  or  any  pari   thereof  Is  unjusl  or  unreasonable  or  othei  v nlawful, 

such    rate    or    rates,    classification,    rules    or    i tin     Commli  ilon 

si  in  ll  hold  to  be  unjusl   oi   otherwise   unlawful,  shall    no1    be  filed  or  take  effect. 

By   Secretary    Francis: 

liv  AARON  GOVE  OF  DENVER,  COLORADO — BEET  si«:\ic  INDUSTRY. 

RESOLVED,     Thai   the  beel   sugar  Indui  ti      merll     and  Is  entitled  to  com 
petenl  and  ample  protection  and  thai   thl     i  i  Is  opposed  to  any  measure 

that  tends  to  Increase   the  Importi n  oi    Cre<    tropical     ugai    grown  bj   cheap 

•  irlental   la  bor. 

By   Secretary    Francis: 

II Y     THE     HAWAIIAN     DELEGATION,    JAS.     F.     MORGAN,    CHAIRMAN  — 
AMERICAN     MERCHANT    MARINE. 

WHEREAS,  The  American  merchanl  marine  engaged  In  Trans-Pacific 
i  rade   Is   i  hrea  I  ened    wl1  h   ex  i  Ind  Ion,  a  nd 

WHEREAS,     Mon     Lggi  natloni     eking   to  dominate   thi    can 

Ing  trade  of  the   Pacific,  and 

WHEREAS,      There    is    In      EHclenl    American    tonnage    to    i   i  iel    and 

supplies  to  our  fleets  of  warship  nes  of  peace;  and 

WHEREAS,  Long  since  the  carrying  trade  ol  the  Atlantic  Ocean  passed 
Into  the   hands  of  powerful    European   nation      and 

WHEREAS  The  Pacific  carrying  trade  is  still  under  competition,  and  the 
United  States  has  still  Its  natural  and  logical  opportunity  to  contro  thai 
trade  to  a  degree  within  the  bounds  of  fair  and  honorable  competition; 
i  ln-refore  ■  .    ,    , , 

BE  IT  KKS<  >l.\  i;i  >.  r-.  in.-  Trans-Mississippi  Commercial  Congress  now 
i,,    session    In    the   city    of   San    Franci   co,    thai    the   existing    condition    ol    tne 

American    merchanl    marine    upon    th<     entire    Pacific    0 -      dangerous    to 

both  our   naval,  military   and   commercial  strength  and   national    progress,  ana 

RESOLVED,      Thai    In    the    opinion    of    the   delegates    here   assembled,    the 

Congress   of    the    United    Statei     si ,    al    Its    next   session,    pro    Ide    liberally 

for  tin-  expansion  tuid   maintenance  of  the  American   m<  n      ml   marine  en     i    - 

in   foreign  trade  on  the   Pacific  Ocean    and   thi »e  taken  al   

before    greater   or    Insuperable   difficulties    presenl    thi  ;   and 

m-:s<  ilA'i-'i  >         That     the     delegati        here    a   sembled     pledgi      themselves 
unitedly    to     urge    upon     th.-ir    respective     Senators    and     Represental 
Congress    such    prompt     action    ai     will     Insure    the    supn  ol     American 

shipping  on  the  Pacific,  and  tl ruard  national  d  and  commerce. 

By   Secretary    Francis: 

BY  GEORGE  C.  CONGDON,  OF   SEATTLE,   W  ISHINGTON— ALASKA-YI  KON- 

PA<  Hi'      EXPOSITION. 

WHEREAS      A  World  Exposition   to  exploll   th;  rces  ol   the  countries 

Lord. -ring   il,.-    P.-ifiiie    will    h<-    held    In    Seatth     In    1909,    and  .,,,,,,,,.,. 

WHEREAS,    Such  an  Bxpoi  11 will  o  develop  f *e  great  o ountry 

lying   to    the   west    of    the    M >J    River,    brii  to    It   therefore   ma 

hundreds    of    thousands    who    would    otherwise    remain    In     Ig  ol     Its 

cliaraeter  and  people  Commercial    Co 

earn^tlyITreaSft08LSDtVans?conti; 

to    Sff.ttl.-    during  i  d.    In    order 


any  way 

Pacific    Exposition 


60  REPORT    OF    PROCEEDINGS 

By   Secretary    Francis: 

BY    A.    H.    WASTELL.    SECRETARY     OF    THE    OREGON    AND    WASHINGTON 

I.I  HBBR     >l\.M  FACT1  RBRS>      ASSOCIATION — ADVANCES 

IN     FREIGHT    It  \ TES. 

PESULYKD,  Tliat  the  Trans-Mississippi  Commercial  Congress  in  nine- 
teenth annual  session  at  San  Francisco,  Cal.,  does  hereby  urge  that  the 
Congress  of  the  United  States  enact  an  amendment  to  the  Interstate  Com- 
merce Act,  whereby  the  interstate  Commerce  Commission  may,  at  its  discretion, 
upon  proper  complaint,  suspend  and  investigate  advances  in  freight  rates,  as  to 
their    reasonableness,    before    they    become    effective. 

By  Secretary  Francis: 

IJV     PETES     LOGGIE,    OF    COOS    BAY",    OREGON — FORTIFYING    COOS    BAY", 

WHEREAS,  Coos  Bay  is  now  recognized  as  the  most  important  harbor 
between  the  Golden  Gate  and  the  Columbia  River,  and  according  to  estimates 
of  Government  engineers,  can  be  Improved  with  the  smallest  expenditure  of 
money  of  any   harbor  on  the   Pacific  Coast,  and 

WHEREAS,  The  products  of  the  Willamette,  Umpqua,  and  Rogue  River 
Valleys,  central,  eastern  and  southern  Oregon,  have  but  two  outlets  to  the 
Pacific  Ocean,  the  Columbia  on  the  north  and  San  Francisco  on  the  south, 
nearly    six    hundred    miles    apart,    and 

NY  1 1 1 : ! :  i  :as.  The  rapidly  growing  importance  from  a  commercial  stand- 
point of  tin-   harbor  of  Coos   Bay   demands  that   the  entrance  be  fortified,  and 

WHEREAS,  According  to  the  estimates  of  United  States  engineers,  four 
hundred  square  miles  of  the  territory  immediately  surrounding  Coos  Bay  is 
underlaid    with    coal,    and 

WHEREAS,     There  is  no  port] f   the  Pacific  Northwest  that  is  as  rich 

in  undeveloped  natural  resources  as  the  vast  region  tributary  to  Coos  Bay, 
now,  therefore  be   it 

RESOLVED,  That  it  is  the  sense  of  this  Congress  that  a  board  of  skilled 
engineers  be  appointed  by  the  Governmenl  to  revise  the  projects  for  the 
improvement  of  the  harbor  of  Coos  Bay.  with  a  view  of  fortifying  the  entrance, 
and    making    the    harbor   a    Government    Coaling    Station. 

By  Vice-President  Pryor: 

The  introducer  of  this  resolution  desires  three  minutes  to  explain.    I  may 

add  this  is  the  rule  under  the  by-laws.     Other  members  having  resolutions 

have  the  same  privilege. 


ree 


Cd  II  tUHlv  ill  dim  ^  '     '  iittm  v,  fin.  i    i  i  i  .-  j  v  t,  i  i  i  '  i  i  i  *»   ,_  i  ,_  tii^ijr,  nil  tt 

torpedo  boats  and  one  torpedo  boat  destroyer,  and  they  coaled.  I  am  not 
here  to  advertise  that  harbor,  but  1  want  to  tell  you  a  few  facts.  Besides 
coal,   we   have   other   interests    there.      There    is   one    mill    cutting   two   hundred 


By   Secretary    Francis: 

BY   CHARLES   C.    MOORE,    PRESIDENT   OF    THE   CHAMBER    OF   COMMERCE 
OF  s.\N   FRANCISCO — SANITAR1    CONDITION    ON    PACIFIC  COAST. 
WHEREAS,    The    work    of    the    United    States    Public    Health    and    Marine- 
Hospita]  Service  under  the  direction  and  command  and  efficient  administration 


TRANS-MISSISSIPPI    COMMERCIAL    CONGRESS  61 

of  Surgeon-General  Wyman  has  done  much  to  improve  the  sanitary  condition 
existing  on  the  entire  Pacific  Coast,  and 

WHEREAS,  We  believe  that  these  labors  have  not  only  protected  the 
commerce  and  health  of  San  Francisco  and  the  entire  Pacific  Slope,  but  also 
been  of  greatest  national  benefit,  therefore  be  it 

RESOLVED,  That  the  Trans-Mississippi  Commercial  Congress  endorses  the 
work  of  the  Public  Health  and  Marine-Hospital  Service  and  desires  to  express 
to  President  Roosevelt,  the  Secretary  of  the  Treasury  and  Surgeon-General 
Wyman  their  appreciation  and  thanks  for  these  efficient  services,  and  be  it 
further 

RESOLVED,  That  this  resolution  be  spread  upon  the  minutes  of  this  Con- 
gress and  copies  thereof  forwarded  to  the  President  of  the  United  States,  the 
Secretary  of  the  Treasury,  Surgeon-General  Wyman  of  the  Public  Health  and 
Marine-Hospital  Service  and  the  public  press. 

By  Secretary    Francis: 

BY    MR.     G.    J.    BRADLEY,    SECRETARY     OF    THE    CALIFORNIA    TRAFFIC 
ASSOCIATION — GOVERNMENT-OWNED     PACIFIC     COAST     LINE. 

WHEREAS,  The  steamship  service  between  the  Pacific  Coast  and  Panama, 
during  the  past  twenty  years,  has  been  so  completely  under  the  control  of  the 
transcontinental  railroads,  that  there  has  been  no  effort  whatever  put  forth 
to  foster  and  build  up  the  sea  service,  and 

WHEREAS,  This  explains  completely  why  shipping  service  via  this  route 
has  not  improved,  and  San  Francisco  and  other  Pacific  Coast  merchants,  both 
importers  and  exporters,  have  looked  forward  with  some  anxiety,  to  such  time 
as  these  restrictions  could  be  removed,  and  the  great  interests,  built  up. 
enlarged  and  protected,  so  that  the  open  sea  route  would  be  a  competition,  and 
act  as  a  regulator  of  rates,  both  by  sea  and  land,  and 

WHEREAS,  Hon.  J.  L.  Bristow,  Special  Panama  Railroad  Commissioner, 
in  his  report  to  the  Secretary  of  War,  dated  January  20th,  1908,  showed  the 
necessity  for  better  service  by  water,  between  Atlantic  and  Pacific  ports,  and 
as  a  result  of  his  investigations  on  this  coast,  recommended  the  establishment 
of  a  Government-owned  line;  therefore 

RESOLVED,  By  this  body  in  convention  assembled,  that  unless  the  Pacific 
Mail  Steamship  Company  gives  assurance  that  it  will  at  once  improve  its 
service  between  San  Francisco,  Central  American  ports,  and  Panama,  we  recom- 
mend, and  urge  the  United  States  Government  to  establish  its  own  line, 
betweeen  all  important  Pacific  Coast  ports,  and  Panama,  calling  at  Central 
American  ports,  thereby  giving  us  a  through  Government-owned  line,  via 
Panama,   from  the  Atlantic  to  the   Pacific  seaboard. 

By  Secretary    Francis: 

BY  AY.  W.  GALLIARD  OF  LOUISIANA — BAYOU  LAFOURCHE. 

RESOLVED,  That  Congress  be  requested  to  compel  the  opening  of  Bayou 
Lafourche,  in  the  state  of  Louisiana,  by  the  construction  of  locks  or  the 
removal  of  the  dam. 

By  Secretary  Francis: 

DEVELOPMENT  OF  CLOSER  RELATIONS  BETWEEN  THE  UNITED   STATES 

AND  THE  LATIN  AMERICAN  REPUBLICS. 
By  Tom  Richardson,  Manager   Commercial   Club,  Portland,   Ore.: 

WHEREAS,   The  Trans-Mississippi   section   of   the   United   States   is   di 
concerned  in  the  development  of  foreign  trade,  and 

WHEREAS,  It  is  apparent  that  the  twenty  Latin-American  Republics  offer 
a  field  and  opportunity  worthy  of  the  best  effort  of  the  business  interests  of 
the  Trans-Mississippi  country,  be  it 

RESOLVED,  That  the  Trans-Mississippi  Commercial  Congress  endorses 
strongly  the  work  and  propaganda  of  the  International  Bureau  of 
American  Republics,  in  Washington,  an  official  institution  supported  by  the 
twenty-one  American  Republics,  including  the  United  States,  and  devoted  to 
the  encouragement  of  Pan-American  commerce,  friendship,  and  peace;  that  it 
congratulates  Honorable  Elihu  Root,  Secretary  of  State  of  the  United  Sta 
on  the  policy  which  he  has  initiated  of  fostering  more  intimate  relations   with 


Is   not   only   orgar 
for  the  legitimate  commei 
National  Congress  of  the  Lj. 

ship  and  mail   facilities  between  the  principal  ports   ot   the  United  btates 
those  of  Latin  America. 


rcial  development  of  this  field,  but  legislation  bj 
United  States  favorable  to  the  improvement  of  steam- 


62  REPORT    OF    PROCEEDINGS 

By  Vice-President  Pryor: 

Mr.  Richardson,  you  have  three  minutes  to  talk  on  that  resolution,  if  you 

so  wish. 

By  Mr.  Richardson: 
Those  of  us — 

A  Delegate: 
Louder. 

Mr.    Richardson: 

I  am  glad  to  speak  louder.  Those  of  us  who  heard  the  matchless  address 
of  Mr.  Barrett,  I  do  not  think  need  anything  in  addition  to  that.  1  present 
the  resolution  with  the  hope  that  when  it  goes  to  the  Committee  on  Resolu- 
tions a  favorable  report  will  emanate  from  that  body  to  this  Congress  and  that 
the  Congress  will  adopt  it  without  division. 

By   Secretary    Francis: 

Resolution  of  1).  P.  MaruxD,  of  Oklahoma: 

IRRIGATION   COMMISSION. 

In  view  of  the  fact  that  the  United  States  Supreme  Court  in  its  decision 
in  the  case  of  Kansas  vs.  Colorado,  the  United  States  intervening:  has  said, 
in  dismissing-  the  petition  of  intervention,  that  Congress  of  the  United  States 
has  no  power  to  make  provisions  for  utilizing  the  Streams  and  creeks  within 
the   boundary  of  any  state  for   the   purpose  of   reclaiming  arid   lands,  and 

WHEREAS,  The  reclamation  of  arid  lands  in  the  Trans-Mississippi  States 
and  Territories  is  more  beneficent  to  the  people  of  the  United  States  than  any 
act  that  Congress  has  passed  during  the  past  century,  bowing  to  the  decision 
of  that  great  Court  that  rendered  the  decision  heretofore  referred  to,  and 
believing-  that  the   work  of  reclamation   should  be  continued,  it  is  therefore, 

RES<  iBYED,  ];y  the  Delegates  to  the  Trans-Mississippi  Commercial  Con- 
gress, now  in  session  this  sixth  day  of  October,  190S,  in  the  city  of  San  Fran- 
cisco, in  the  state  of  California,  that  Congress  by  suitable  enactment  provide 
such  laws,  as  will  be  necessary  to  provide  a  proper  Commission,  to  consist  of 
one  member  from  each  state  where  irrigation  is  necessary,  for  the  develop- 
ment of  its  agricultural  resources,  and 

THAT  said  Commission  be  either  appointed  by  t  he  President  of  the  United 
States,  or  by  the  Governor  of  each  of  the  states  interested  therein,  as  Congress 
in   its   wisdom   shall   see   tit,  and 

THAT  the  reclamation  fund,  now  provided  bj  law  to  furnish  irrigation  in 
the  arid  regions  of  the  United  states,  be  turned  over  to  said  Commission  for 
use  in  the  states  and  territories  of  this  region,  whenever  the  Legislatures  of 
such  states  and  territories  will  confer  upon  the  Commission  heretofore 
referred  to  power,  by  suitable  legislative  enactment,  to  use  the  waters  within 
the  confines  of  each  state  as  may  be  necessary  for  this  purpose. 

By  Secretary   Francis: 

I  have  a  telegram: 

Chicago,  October  7,   1908. 
J.    B.    Case,    President    Trans-Mississippi    Commercial    Congress,    San    Francisco. 

California: 

We    earnestly   desire    the   Trans-Mississippi    Commercial    Congress    to    join 

the    Conservation     Beam C     America.     Twenty     leading    organizations    have 

already  joined.  WALTER  L.  FISHER. 

By  Vice-President  Pryor: 

The  request  will  be  referred  to  the  Committee  on  Resolutions. 

By   Secretary   Francis: 

Also   greetings    from    the    Postmaster-General: 

Washington,   I  >.  C,  October  7.   1908. 
Mr.   J.   ti.   Case,   President  Trans-Mississippi    Commercial    Congress,   San   Fran- 
cisco, California: 

I  send  cordial  greetings  to  the  Trans-Mississippi  Commercial  Congress. 
Mr.  Arthur  G.  Fisk,  Postmaster  of  San  Francisco,  has  been  designated  to  rep- 
resent the   Post  Office   Department    at    your   convention. 

MEYER,  Postmaster  General. 


TRANS-MISSISSIPPI    COMMERCIAL    CONGRESS  63 

By  Vice-President  Pryor: 

If  there  is  no  objection  the  telegram  will  be  incorporated  in  the  official 
record. 

I  want  to  impress  on  the  members  here  the  importance  of  the  Com- 
mittee on  Resolutions.  It  is  the  working  committee.  Several  states  have 
not  named  as  yet  the  members  to  serve  upon  that  committee.  That  com- 
mittee is  organized.  It  has  selected  its  chairman  and  elected  its  secretary, 
and  will  be  ready  to  commence  work  at  11  o'clock  in  the  committee  room  at 
the  entrance.  All  states  and  territories  not  yet  organized  should  name 
their  members.  If  there  are  only  a  few  from  any  state  or  territory  with 
delegates  en  route  those  who  are  present  should  organize  and  not  wait  for 
a  full  delegation.  Every  resolution  that  is  to  be  presented  will  be  read 
here  and  will  go  to  the  Resolution  Committee  before  it  comes  back  for 
action.  The  members  of  that  committee  .have  the  right  to  cut  that  resolu- 
tion or  amend  it,  and  you  want  to  be  here  to  look  after  your  interests  and 
the  interests  of  your  section.  You  need  to  have  some  man  from  your  state 
on  that  committee  to  look  after  the  interest  of  your  state. 

Thereupon  the  Secretary  read  the  following: 

San  Francisco,  October  6,   1908. 
To  the  Trans-Mississippi  Commercial  Congress,  in  session  Dreamland  Pavilion, 
San    Francisco:  . 

Gentlemen:  The  "Equal  Suffrage  League"  of  the  state  of  California  takes 
The  pleasure  to  invite  you  to  the  anniversary  celebration  of  our  association, 
to  he  held  at  the  "Chutes,"  Saturday,  October  10th.  Festivities  will  commence 
at  10  a  m.  and  will  last  until  12  p.  m.  Able  speakers  will  rleliver  addresses, 
and  a  special  program  will  be  provided.  M°ThT  C^MMITTFB. 

By  Mrs.  Theodore  Pinther. 

Secretary  Francis  then  read  the  following  telegram: 

Shreveport,  Louisiana.   October   fi,    1908. 
Louisiana    Delegation.     Trans-Mississippi     Commercial    Congress,     Dreamland, 

San    Francisco.    California: 

Sickness  prevents  my  attendance.  Agitate  National  aid  for  public  high- 
ways. J-    S-    mxoN- 

By   Secretary   Francis: 

It  should  be  stated  that  Mr.  Dixon  is  the  vice-president  for  the  stats 
of   Louisiana. 

By  Secretary  Francis: 

By  the  Board  of  Trade,  of  Florence,  Oregon: 

THE  SIUSLAW  HARBOR. 

RESOLVED.   That   in    view   of  the   approaching  completion   of  ^fieh^bTa 
Canal    every    harbor    of    the    Pacific    Coast    of    the    United    States    which    by    a 
reasonable    expenditure    can    be    made    oracticable    for    ocean    lommei    e^r*<m 
National   importance,  and  the  Siuslaw  harbor  of  Lane -County .state  of ^egon 
appearing  for  such  cause  worthy,  and  the  natural  outlet  to  the  sea •  ^a^arte 
timber   and    agricultural    district,    it   is   recommended I    that   tlie    said   harbor   be 
restored  to  the  position  formerly  occupied  in  the  Harbor  and  River  ApP^oP^a 
tions   and   that  the   improvements   there   commenced   be   earned   to   completion. 

Secretary  Francis  then  read  the  following: 

VENICE  OF  AMERICA. 

The  Venice  Chamber  of  Commerce  extends  to  you  and  the  members  of 
the  Congress  a  cordial  invitation  to  visit  the  Venice  of  America.  „ 

We   can    show    your   members   how   a  private   enterprise    has   P™ieci^    '" 
ocean  Iron?  by  a  breakwater  and  guarded  its  bui  dings ;  over  the  watering 
the   teredo   and   limnoria.      We   can   also   show   ™te«8"^._wf£V5.  r6C 
tide  lands  by  canals  and  fills  to  make  a  park  and  residence  district. 


64  REPORT    OF    PROCEEDINGS 

The  Venice  deep-sea  harbor  plan  approved  by  the  Secretary  of  War  is 
only  started,  but  when  complete  a  perfect  harbor  with  forty  feet  of  water  for 
large  vessels  via  Panama  and  from  all  parts  of  the  Pacific  will  be  available 
at  low  c-'pst  and  equal  facilities  to  all. 

We  are  greatly  interested  in  the  valuable  and  public-spirited  work  of  the 
Trans-Mississippi  Commercial   Congress.  Very   truly   yours, 

W.  A.  RBNNIE,  Secretary. 

By  Secretary  Francis: 

PARCELS    POST. 

By  Edward  Berwiek,  President  of  the  Postal  Progress  League  of  California. 

WHEREAS,  Commerce  depends  on  two  factors,  production  and  transporta- 
tion, and   increases  as  these   improve;    be  it 

RESOLVED,  That  this  Congress  heartily  endorses  Postmaster-General 
Meyer's  proposals  for  the  institution  of  a  more  extended,  efficient  and  cheaper 
parcels  post. 

By   President   Case: 

Mr.  Berwick  desires  to  speak  three  minutes  on  this  resolution. 

By  Mr.  Edward  Berwick,  of  California: 

Mr.  President  and  Ladies  and  Gentlemen:  "Westward  the  star  of  empire 
takes  its  way!  You  people  here  are  builders  of  the  empire  of  the  West,  and 
I  am  going  to  call  you  western  emperors.  The  man  that  builds  an  empire 
ought  to  be  an  emperor,  and  I  want  you  to  have  a  high  opinion  of  yourselves. 
for  this  reason:  I  know  you  all  feel  that  as  Americans  you  are  entitled  to  the 
best  of  everything  in  the  world;  you  are  entitled  to  the  best  public  service  in 
the  world.  In  some  respects  no  doubt  you  have  it;  in  other  respects  you  do  not 
have  it.  One  of  the  respects  in  which  you  are  short  is  your  postal  service, 
which  in  some  regards  is  not  giving  you  a  square  deal;  it  is  not  allowed  to 
give  you  a  square  deal.  For  twenty  years  the  postmaster-general  has  been 
anxious  to  give  you  better  service  in  the  matter  of  parcels  post.  To  show 
you  that  Mr.  Roosevelt  and  Postmaster  Meyer  are  in  accord  with  the  traditions 
of  the  office,  I  want  to  tell  you  that  they  have  done  this  for  you: 

They  regulate  foreign  rates.  They  can  frame  conventions  with  any  for- 
eign country  with  which  they  see  fit  to  frame  these  conventions.  But  they 
cannot  control  domestic  rates.  At  present  a  ridiculous  anomaly  prevails:  You 
can  send  a  package  from  here  to  London,  England,  for  less  money  than  from 
here  to  Oakland;  you  can  send  packages  to  London,  England,  or  to  Dublin, 
or  to  Japan  that  you  cannot  send  at  all  to  Oakland.  The  limit  of  your  weight 
here  is  four  pounds — from  here  to  Oakland  or  from  here  to  New  York.  You 
pay  a  rate  of  sixteen  cents  a  pound  thereon.  The  limit  to  London,  England, 
or  to  Japan,  is  eleven  pounds,  on  which  you  do  not  pay  sixteen  cents,  but 
only  twelve  cents.  So  that  you  can  buy  goods  in  Japan  and  have  them  deliv- 
ered at  your  doors  here  cheaper  than  you  can  buy  goods  in  Oakland  and 
have  them  sent  by  the  same  postofflce  to  your  address  here.  Do  you  think 
that  is  right?  They  tell  you  perhaps  that  you  cannot  have  them  cheaper  here, 
it  cannot  be  done. 

Let  me  tell  you  what  Great  Britain  does  in  long-distance  parcels  post: 
They  send  three  pounds  from  Great  Britain  to  Hindoo,  China,  or  to  Burmah, 
for  24  cents;  they  send  eleven  pounds  for  72  cents — all  that  long  distance.  Let 
me  tell  you  what  the  expn  npanies  can   do  for  the   British  public  in  this 

favored  land  of  ours,  where  we  are  tin'  sovereign  people — the  western  emperors. 
For  the  British  public  they  transport  all  parcels  to  any  point,  to  San  Fran- 
cisco, up  to  11  pounds  in  weight,  for  -1  cents.  You  will  find  you  are  not 
accorded  anything  like  a  similar  privilege. 

Mr.  Chairman,  l  realize  my  three  minutes  are  almost  up;  but  I  want  to 
urge  the  western  emperors,  these  builders  of  empire,  to  go  ahead  and  make  the 
echoes  ring  with  a   demand  tor  an  up-to-date  parcels  post.     (Applause.) 

By  Secretary  Francis: 
(Reading.) 

SACRAMENTO    \\l>    •»  \  N    JOAQUIN    BIVEBS. 
it.\    r.  .1.   Barney]  of  California) 

Tin'  two  great  valleys  of  California  arc  the  Sacramento  and  San  Joaquin. 
Through  the  fertile  lands  of  these  valleys  flow  the  waters  of  the  Sacramento 
and   s.i  n   .Toaouin   rivers   in    their  downward  course   to  the  sea. 

On  these  Inland  waterways  have  been  transported  millions  of  tons  of 
grain  and  other  products  for  shipment  by  Bea  i"  the  markets  of  the  world. 
Also  on  these  great  Inland  highways  have  been  transported  millions  of  tons 
of  fruit,  vegetables  and  garden  produce  generally  for  the  canneries,  and  for 
the  consuming  centers  "("  population   within   the  state  and  the  East. 


roi..    FRED    W.    FLEMING,    Kanaaa    City,    Missouri. 
<  iiiiirin:i n    Congressional    Committee. 


TRANS-MISSISSIPPI    COMMERCIAL    CONGRESS  65 

Considering-  the  great  development  already  accomplished  in  these  two 
great  valleys  of  California,  and  the  wonderful  opportunities  afforded  for  a 
much  larger  increased  development,  the  maintenance  of  the  Sacramento  and 
San  Joaquin  rivers  and  their  tributaries  as  navigable  waterways  is  a  matter  of 
great   commercial   importance. 

We  therefore  recommend  to  the  National  Congress,  when  the  surveys  of 
the  river  channels  now  being  made  by  congressional  authority,  by  the  United 
States  War  Department,  are  completed,  that  the  necessary  appropriations  be 
made  by  the  Federal  Government  for  the  proposed  deepening  of  the  channel 
of  the  Sacramento  River  to  a  depth  of  fifteen  feet  from  Suisun  Ray  to  the 
city  of  Sacramento  and  nine  feet  from  Sacramento  City  to  the  mouth  of  the 
Feather  River:  also  for  the  deepening  of  the  channel  of  the  San  Joaquin  River 
to  a  depth  of  fifteen  feet  from  Suisun   Bay  to  the  city  of  Stockton. 

The  Sacramento  Valley  embraces  twelve  counties  of  the  State,  having 
a  combined  area  of  17,500  square  miles,  and  an  acreage  of  twelve  million  acres, 
including  hill  and  plain.  The  floor  lands  of  this  valley  are  prodigious  in  pro- 
ductive capacity. 

The  Sacramento  River  flows  through  the  full  length  of  the  valley  a  dis- 
tance  of   three   hundred    miles. 

The  head  of  navigation  is  Red  Bluff,  three  hundred  and  twenty-six 
miles  by  water  from  San  Francisco.  Owing  to  the  formation  of  bars  on  the 
upper  reaches  of  the  river  during  the  summer  season,  river  steamers  and 
barges  cannot  reach  Red  Bluff,  and  navigation  during  low  water  season  extends 
only  to  Chico  landing,  fifty-four  miles  south  of  Red  Bluff.  While  present  sur- 
veys now  being  made  by  the  Federal  Government  with  a  view  of  deepening  the 
river  channel  extends  only  to  a  point  one  hundred  and  fifty  miles  above  San 
Francisco,  we  urgently  recommend  to  the  National  Congress  that  immediate 
action  be  taken  for  improving  the  channel  of  the  upper  Sacramento  River  so 
that  its  navigability  to  Red  Bluff  can  be  maintained  during  all  seasons  of  the 
year. 

By  Secretary  Francis: 

That  is  all  of  the  resolutions,  Mr.  President. 

By   President  Case: 

The  resolutions  will  be  referred  to  the  Committee  on  Resolutions. 

Members  of  the  Trans-Mississippi  Commercial  Congress,  we  have  with 
us  today  a  member  of  this  Congress  who  holds  an  office  as  the  chairman 
of  the  Congressional  Committee,  and  who  has  been  identified  with  this 
Congress  for  long  years,  taking  an  interest  in  everything  for  which  the 
Trans-Mississippi  Commercial  Congress  stands.  He  has  been  very  modest 
heretofore  in  addressing  us.  He  represents  one  of  the  best  insurance  com- 
panies in  the  United  States,  perhaps  not  so  large,  but  one  of  which  we  in 
the  eastern  portion  of  the  Trans-Mississippi  country  are  proud. 
The  subject  of  life  insurance  is  something  in  which  I  know  we  are  all 
interested,  not  only  for  the  purpose  of  carrying  policies,  but  for  the  purpose 
also  of  keeping  the  money  in  the  Trans-Mississippi  country.  Had  we,  during 
the  recent  financial  flurry,  had  two  or  three  of  the  large  insurance  com- 
panies in  our  midst,  we  would  have  had  relief  which  we  could  have  received 
from  no  other  source. 

The  Kansas  City  Life  Insurance  Company,  of  which  Mr.  Fleming  is  a 
representative,  and  of  which  he  is  the  secretary,  did  more  in  our  section 
of  the  country  to  help  out  the  condition  during  the  panic,  than  any  institu- 
tion in  our  section  of  the  country.  It  is  with  pleasure  that  I  introduce  to 
you  a  member  of  this  Congress,  my  friend  and  your  friend,  Col.  Fred  W. 
Fleming,  of  Kansas  City. 

INSURANCE    FROM    A   WESTERN    VIEW    POINT. 
By   Col.  Fred  W.  Fleming,  of  Kansas   City: 

Following:  the  highly  complimentary  expressions  of  the  distinguished 
President  or  the  Congress  I  feel  somewhat  embarrassed  in  appearing  before 
you  My  experience  in  life  and  business  training  has  not  been  along  the 
fines  of  addressing  public  gatherings,  and  in  an  attempted,  discussion  of  so 
Important  a  sub "ect'to  the  people  of  the  Trans-Mississippi  country  as  life 
insurance,  I  feel  like  making  apology  .  m  advance  for  my  inability  to  do 
justice    to    this    question    of    overshadowing    importance.      Americans    are    the 


66  REPORT    OF    PROCEEDINGS 

greatest  patrons  of  I i f" •  -  Insurance  among-  civilized  nations,  yet  the  average 
policyholder  is  densely  ignorant  concerning  the  provisions  of  the  insurance 
contract  upon  which  tie  pays  premiums.  In  ninety-nine  cases  out  of  one 
hundred  the  average  patron  of  insurance  companies  does  not  remember, 
between   the  premium  paying  dates,  the  amount   required  to  be  paid  annually 

to   keep   his   policy    in    force.      Our   i pie   appreciate   the   tremendous   benefits 

afforded  by  the  institution  of  insurance,  and  are  liberal  patrons  of  the  life 
companies  without  assuming  the  trouble  Of  investigating  policy  conditions 
with  a  view  of  determining  which  particular  form  of  contract  would  best 
suit  their  individual  case.  When  i  received  the  Invitation  from  President 
Case  to  deliver  an  address  on  this  subject  at  this  veal's  session  of  tile  Con- 
gress. 1  felt  that  it  was  well-nigh  impossible  to  include  within  a  talk  of 
thirty  or  forty  minutes  even  the  salient  points  of  one  phase  of  the  subject, 
and  in  what  J  propose  to  say  I  expect  to  limit  my  remarks  to  a  considera- 
tion of  the  business  of  life  insurance  as  affecting  the  western  country,  and 
largely    from   a   practical   standpoint. 

Insurance  on  human  lives  is  one  of  the  most  important  institutions  in 
the  social  economy  of  this  advanced  age.  The  immense  number  of  persons 
affected  and  the  magnitude  of  the  operations  of  insurance,  renders  the  sub- 
ject a  proper  one  for  discussion  at  any  time  and  from  any  viewpoint.  At 
this  time,  however,  when  the  institution  of  life  insurance,  which  is  so  con- 
spicuous   a    feature    of    our    modern    civilization,    is    misunderstood,    and    from 

prejudice,   is  being  made   ti bject    of  attack   through    hostile   legislation,  it  is 

peculiarly  the  province  and  duty  of  the  Trans-Mississippi  Commercial  Con- 
gress to  consider  its  present  status  in  the  great  area  of  country  represented 
in  this  body,  and  lend  the  power  of  its  Influence  in  an  effort  not  only  to  safe- 
guard its  future  welfare,  but  to  elevate  the  business  of  insurance  to  the 
highest   standard   of    efficiency. 

The  figures  representing  the  business  of  American  life  companies  are 
so  enormous  that  one's  sense  of  proportion  is  lost  in  their  consideration. 
Other  great  branches  of  commerce  are  dwarfed  into  insignificance  when  com- 
pared with  the  magnificent  totals  representing  the  business  of  life  insurance  in 
the  United  States.  There  is  Insurance  in  force  on  the  lives  of  citizens  of  the 
Trans-Mississippi  section  of  country  alone  of  more  than  two  and  a  quarter 
billion  dollars  in  standard  form  policies,  and  more  than  L'2o  million  dollars  in 
industrial  companies  which  insure  all  members  of  the  family,  young  and  old. 
If  we  add  to  these  two  amounts  2  and  one-half  billion  dollars,  represented  in 
certificates  issued  by  assessment  associations,  we  have  practically  five  billion 
dollars  of  life  insurance  carried  by  residents  of  the  states  and  territories  repre- 
sented in  this  Congress.  Last  year  there  was  paid  to  life  companies  (exclud- 
ing assessmentism )  by  citizens  of  the  Trans-Mississippi  States.  $81,640,401. 
of  which  amount  more  than  74  million  dollars  was  paid  to  companies  located 
in  the  far  east.  The  life  comnnnies  of  the  states  west  of  the  river,  including 
the  well  established  and  prosperous  institutions  of  California,  Iowa,  Minne- 
sota and  other  Western  States,  collected  in  premiums  during  the  same  time, 
$  1 1|.::43,699.  In  other  words,  in  this  line  of  business  the  western  companies 
transacted  about  11  per  cent  of  the  western  business,  while  89  per  cent  of  the 
life  premiums  paid  by  western  people  was  sent  away  from  home  to  assist 
in  maintaining  the  financial  supremacy  of  the  eastern  section  in  the  commerce 
of    the    Nation. 

During  tlie  past  ten  years  the  Trans-Mississippi  states  have  paid  to  non- 
resident life  companies  more  than  500  million  dollars,  and  while  the  insurance 
protection  afforded  was  worth  all  that  was  paid  for  it.  there  would  have  been 
a  double  benefit  to  this  section  of  country  if  that  Immense  sum  of  money 
had  been  available  to  stimulate  and  develop  the  mineral,  agricultural  and  hor- 
ticultural interests  of  this  great  empire  of  country  lying  west  of  the  Missis- 
sippi River.  While  it  is  true  that  a  small  portion  of  the  71  million  dollars  paid 
for  life  insurance,  in  greater  part,  to  companies  east  of  the  Alleghany  Moun- 
tains last  year,  was  returned  in  settlement  of  death  claims  an.l  in  investments 
in  western  securities,  vet  how  much  more  advantageous  to  the  Trans-Missis- 
sippi  country  in  general  it  would  have  been  if  every  dollar  of  that  magnifi- 
cent  amount   had   remained    in    the    west    for    long   time    investment    her,-. 

During  the  nc\t  ten  years  it  is  well  within  the  bounds  of  conservatism  to 
estimate  tin-  amount  of  premiums  that  will  be  paid  to  life  insurance  companies 
by  the  people  Of  the  twenty-two  western  states  and  territories,  at  one  and 
one-fourth  billion  dollars.  or  an  average  amount  of  more  than 
ion  million  dollars  per  annum,  if  the  practical  monopoly  of  tin'  life  insurance 
business  in  the  western  country  now  exercised  by  companies  located  along  the 

Atlantic  seal. (•aid  is  continued,  and  this  immense  sum  of  money  is  with- 
drawn from  active  circulation  in  the  west  during  each  twelve-month  period 
of  the  next  decade,  it  will  constitute  ;i  tremendous  drain  on  the  financial 
strength  of  the  Tra ns-M ississippi  country.  The  wonderful  productivity  of  the 
territory  lying  between  the  great  rive,-  and  the  Pacific,  and  the  variety  of  its 
sources      of      natural       wealth.      has      enalded       this      favored       Section       to      take 

the  lead  in  the  production  of  the  primary  wealth  of  the  United  states. 
No      other     portion      of     the      world's      surface      with      no      greater      population 


TRANS-MISSISSIPPI    COMMERCIAL    CONGRESS  67 

could  withstand  such  a  drain.  It  is  imperatively  necessary  to  the  commer- 
cial welfare  of  this  great  western  empire  that  the  business  of  insurance  in 
every  line  should  be  deloealized.  and  this  is  particularly  true  of  life  insur- 
ance. I  am  not  preaching-  a  sectional  doctrine,  but  advocating  a  truly  national 
policy. 

The  West  Should  I  ■:*!  :il.lisli   Great  Companies. 

The  western  country  should  build  up  and  develop  strong  and  pros- 
perous insurance  institutions  just  as  they  have  established  strong  and  solvent 
banking  institutions,  manufacturing  companies  and  great  mercantile  establish- 
ments. This  is  an  important  economic  question  affecting  the  commercial  wel- 
fare of  the  West  today,  but  it  becomes  doubly  important  when  the  future  is 
considered. 

The  fine  spirit  of  mutual  helpfulness  and  practical  co-operation 
exemplified  in  the  institution  of  life  insurance  has  been  more  highly 
developed  in  America  than  in  any  other  country  of  earth,  but  not- 
withstanding its  magnificent  growth  in  the  United  States,  so  far  in 
advance  of  the  older  nations  of  the  world,  the  business  of  insurance 
upon  lives  is  still  but  in  its  vigorous  youth.  The  expansion  of 
the  business  is  apparently  without  limit.  During  the  next  twenty  years  its 
percentage  of  increase  is  certain  to  be  far  greater  than  during  the  past  two 
decades,  but  if  the  life  companies  of  the  country  show  even  an  equal  per- 
centage of  growth  during  that  time,  their  accumulated  assets  in  1930  will 
dwarf  into  comparative  insignificance  the  combined  valuation  of  all  the 
savings  institutions,  trust  companies,  banks  and  railway  companies  of 
the  United  States.  These  calculations  are  staggering,  and  an  attempt  to 
carry  the  figures  representing  the  assets  of  American  life  companies  into 
a  second,  or  even  a  third  decade  beyond  the  present,  will,  from  their  vast- 
ness  almost  cause  a   doubt  of  the  accuracy  of  your  calculations. 

Today  in  the  United  States  there  are  more  than  thirty  million  life 
policies  in  force,  and  during  the  year  ending  June  30th  last  more  than 
five  million  dollars  was  distributed  among  patrons  of  life  insurance.  The 
total  number  of  life  contracts  issued  by  American  companies  is  more  than 
three  million  in  excess  of  the  entire  population  of  the  twenty-two  Trans- 
Mississippi  States  and  Territories,  and  the  amount  of  insurance  in  force  in 
companies  which  operate  on  scientific  principles  is  nearly  thirteen  billions  of 
dollars,  and  adding  to  this  amount  eight  billion  dollars,  represented  by  associa- 
tions conducted  on  a  more  primitive  plan,  the  combined  amount  reaches  the 
enormous  total  of  more  than  twenty-one  billion  dollars.  The  combined  capi- 
tal stock  and  bonded  indebtedness  of  the  railroad  companies  owning  225 
thousand  miles  of  American  railway  does  not  exceed  two-thirds  of  the  amount 
of  life  insurance  in  force  in  this  country.  One  American  company  has  more 
policyholders  than  the  combined  population  of  California,  Washington.  Nevada, 
Utah,  Wyoming,  Montana,  Iowa,  New  Mexico,  Arizona,  Colorado,  Oklahoma, 
Nebraska,  Arkansas,  Louisiana,  North  and  South  Dakota,  including  men, 
women  and  children.  The  resources  of  another  company  equal  in  amount 
one-half  of  the  entire  capital  of  the  national  banks. 

Ameriea    Treads   the    World    in    Insurance. 

The  insurance  idea  has  been  a  plant  of  slow  growth  in  the  older  nations 
of  Europe.  It  may  be  stated  that  its  beginning  was  in  1693,  when  a  German 
doctor  discovered  from  a  comparison  of  the  burial  register  of  Breslau  that 
every  age  of  life  had  its  death  rate.  His  discovery  attracted  little  notice  at 
the  time,  but  marked  the  foundation  of  a  new  social  process  and  furnished  the 
basic  principle  upon  which  was  founded  the  modern  insurance  system.  The 
first  intelligent .  attempt  to  utilize  this  theory  was  in  the  formation  of  a 
society  in  London  in  1762,  nearly  one  hundred  years  later.  The  movement 
made  but  slow  progress  against  the  superstitious  prejudice  of  the  masses 
of  people,  and  it  was  almost  one  hundred  years  later  before  there  was  a 
general  recognition  of  the  fact  that  the  discovery  of  the  German  physician 
had  marked  an  important  era  in  the  social  progress  of  mankind.  The  first 
English  company,  now  146  years  old.  was  the  pioneer  in  the  insurance  field 
among  English  speaking  people.  Its  growth  has  been  very  slow,  but  it  is 
claimed  to  its  credit  that  the  society  has  dispensed  unusual  benefits  to  its 
patrons.  Its  affairs  have  been  administered  with  faithfulness,  which,  how- 
ever, does  not  seem  to  have  been  fully  appreciated  by  the  average  Briton,  from 
the  fact  that  during  the  last  year  the  total  new  business  of  the  company 
amounted    to    550    policies. 

What  may  properly  be  termed  the  modern  American  system  of  life  insur- 
ance had  its  beginning  after  the  close  of  the  Civil  War,  but  since  that  date  its 
progress  has  been  the  marvel  of  insurance  authorities  throughout  the  civil- 
ized world. 

From  a  sociological  viewpoint,  the  development  of  insurance  in  this 
country  sharply  emphasizes  the  difference  between  social  conditiors  in  America 
and  in  the  monarchical  countries  of  Europe.  The  average  American  learns  the 
old  couplet  at  an  early  age:  "As  we  journey  through  life  let  us  live  by  the 
way,"   and   when    he   assumes   the   responsibility   of   establishing   a   home,   it   Is 


68  REPORT    OF    PROCEEDINGS 

his  highest  ambition  that  his  family  shall  have  not  only  the  necessities  of 
life,  hut  enjoy  some  of  its  comforts  as  well.  His  average  income  in  every  line 
of  human  activity  is  greater  than  his  counterpart  in  any  other  country. 
Averaging  his  experience  with  that  of  ten  or  twenty  thousand  other  men  simi- 
larly situated,  he  is  able  t"  safeguard  the  future  of  his  dependent  ones  by 
life  Insurance  and  Is  thus  enabled  to  spend  a  large  portion  of  his  income  in 
the   education   of   his   children    and    current    living   expenses. 

Insurance  h  Vital  Necessity. 

So  this  Institution  supplies  a  vital  necessity  in  the  economic  life  of  America. 
It  is  certain  that  the  business  of  our  life  companies  will,  during  the  next  two 
decades,  witness  a  growth  that  will  tar  outstrip  its  development  during  the 
past  twenty  years.  If  the  managers  of  those  greal  organizations  have  been 
so  successful  in  overcoming  the  obstacles  which  Impeded  the  growth  of 
insurance  during  the  past,  who  can,  at  this  time,  lix  the  limits  that  will 
accurately  measure  the  meat  achievements  of  the  next  twenty  years?  The 
pioneers  in  this  field  of  human  progress  have,  in  this  country,  succeeded 
in  measurably  overcoming  the  almost  unaccountable  lack  of  a  proper  sense 
of  responsibility  of  men  in  every  grade  of  society  of  their  natural  duties 
and  obligations  to   dependent    members  of   the   family. 

Americans  Arc  I  nder  Ensured. 

Admitting  the  certainty  of  the  continued  popularity  of  this  form  of  pro- 
tection among  the  American  people,  it  becomes  a  question  of  the  greatest 
importance  that  the  business  should  be  delocalized.  It  is  irrational,  and  from 
an  economic  standpoint,  unwise  that  the  domicile  of  so  important  an  institu- 
tion should  be  limited  to  a  small  stretch  of  country  along  the  Atlantic  Coast. 
The  estimated  population  of  the  entire  country  is  eighty-four  million  persons. 
comprising  eighteen  million  families,  and,  including  women  and  minors 
employed,  approximately  twenty-nine  million  employees.  A  careful  estimate 
of  the  earnings  of  each  of  these  twenty-nine  million  employees  is  five  hundred 
dollars  per  year,  and  their  average  duration  of  life,  assuming  their  present 
ages  to  be  thirty-five  years,  is  thirty-two  years.  The  net  earning  power  of  each 
member  of  this  greal  force  of  twenty-nine  million  persons  during  their  expec- 
tation of  life  is  $s,000  each,  and  the  combined  money  value  of  the  total  number 
for  the  period  of  their  expectation  of  life  would  exceed  two  hundred  and  tit'ty 
billion  dollars.  The  total  insurance  in  force  on  these  twenty-nine  million 
persons   is   less   than    five   per   cent   of    the    value    insured. 

The  value  of  property  in  the  United  States,  subject  to  loss  by  fire,  is  given 
at  fifty-five  billion  dollars  and  is  protected  by  insurance  of  forty-five  billion 
dollars.  In  other  words,  property  subject  to  loss  by  fire  is  protected  by  indem- 
nity of  more  than  eighty  per  cent  of  its  value,  while  the  restless  energy  of 
the  twenty-nine  million  highly  trained  lives,  actively  engaged  in  creating  and 
preserving  the  wealth  of  America,  is  protected  by  insurance  of  less  than  five 
per  cent  of  its  productive  value.  The  product  of  their  disciplined  and  efficient 
activities  in  the  form  of  combustible  property  is  deemed  so  valuable  that 
business  prudence  requires  its  owners  to  carry  insurance  against  loss  by  fire 
of  eighty  per  cent,  while  the  creators  of  that  wealth  carry  protection  on  a 
more  valuable  form  of  property  on  a  basis  of  five  per  cent. 

While  the  present  gigantic  proportion  of  life  insurance  in  America  is  a 
modern  development,  it  is  not  a  modern  institution.  The  origin  of  the  busi- 
ness was  in  the  discovery  of  the  German  doctor  two  hundred  and  fifteen  years 
ago,  but  it  remained  for  the  New  World  to  demonstrate  its  far-reaching 
benefits  to  society.  The  operation  of  Insurance  In  honest  and  capable  hands 
constitutes  the  most  conspicuous  example  of  modern  Christianity — the  fulfil- 
ment in  a  practical  way  of  the  command  of  the  Holy  Writ:  "Hear  ye  one 
another's  burdens."  It  requires  the  many  to  share  the  misfortune  of  the 
few.  It  relieves  the  state  of  the  obligation  of  caring  for  a  large  number  of 
persons  who,  except  for  Its  benefits,  would  become  public  charges,  it  gives 
the  children   of  tender  age,  bereft   of  their  natural   guardians,  an   opportunity 

where  otherwise  there  would  he  no  opportunity  for  them.  It  constitutes  a 
grand  plan  of  co-operation  where  the  millions  who  survive  make  a  small  con- 
tribution to  alleviate  the  misfortunes  and  possible  distress  of  the  dependent 
ones  of  those  who  have  been  caih-d  away  before  their  time,  it  protects 
society  In  general  against  an  increase  in  the  number  of  dependent  members. 
It  benefits  the  state  by  elevating  the  standard  of  citizenship  and  it  sweetens 
life  from  a  sense  of  dependence  and  Bafety  against  the  unknown  reverses 
Of    the    future. 

Foster    Western    Companies. 

The  institution  of  Insurance  ought  to  be  fostered  and  encouraged  by  the 
state  through  friendly  and  just  legislation.  In  many  states  of  the  I'nion  it 
has  been,  and  is  still  being,  burdened  with  unjust  taxes,  as  though  the 
institution  of  Insurance   were  a   menace  to  the  public   welfare. 

Ought  not  these  societies,  which  are  satisfactorily  performing  a  great 
mission  of  widespread  beneficence,  be  sustained  and  favored  by  the  state  the 
same  as  other  agencies  for  the  public  good'.1     Our  system  of  public  education 


TRANS-MISSISSIPPI    COMMERCIAL    CONGRESS  69 

has  always  been  a  source  of  just  pride  to  every  patriotic  citizen.  All  men 
admit  the  sound  public  policy  of  supporting  the  splendid  system  of  public 
schools  for  which  this  country  is  noted  among-  all  the  nations  of  earth.  Prop- 
erty used  for  educational  purposes  is  wisely  exempted  from  taxation  because 
society  in  general  is  benefited  through  the  spread  of  public  intelligence. 
Church  property  in  the  United  States,  valued  at  more  than  five  hundred  million 
dollars,  is  not  taxed  for  any  purpose,  because,  as  a  Christian  Nation,  we 
recognize  the  benefit  of  the  church  influence  to  the  state  and  society  at  large 
as  being  of  value  to  every  citizen.  The  unbeliever  is  required  to  pay  an 
indirect  tax,  because  church  property,  being  exempt  from  taxation,  all  other 
property  must  pay  a  higher  tax,  and  this  inequality  is  justified  because  the 
influence  of  religion  is  believed  by  a  majority  of  people  to  be  a  public  benefit. 
Charitable  institutions  are  also  in  many  of  the  states  exempted  by  law  from 
taxation. 

The  head  of  a  family  who  is  not  fortunate  in  the  possession  of  a  com- 
petence, makes  a  wise  provision  for  the  future  of  his  dependent  ones,  and 
voluntarily  assumes  a  tax  in  the  form  of  an  insurance  premium.  In  many 
cases  this  tax,  self-imposed,  requires  on  his  part  the  closest  economy  and 
possibly  a  severe  sacrifice.  Manifestly  his  prudent  forethought  is  also  of 
benefit  to  the  state  and  to  society  at  large,  but  under  the  laws  of  many 
states  this  man,  who  first  taxes  himself  for  an  unselfish  and  worthy  purpose, 
is  subject  to  an  unjust  discrimination  on  the  part  of  the  state  by  being  again 
penalized  in  the  form  of  another  tax.  Every  argument  in  favor  of  the 
exemption  of  school  and  church  property  from  taxation,  applies  with  greater 
force  to  the  voluntary  contributions  made  by  the  members  of  insurance  associ- 
ations. 

Keep  Western  Money  in  Bank. 

Considered  from  its  financial  aspect  alone,  it  must  be  remembered  that 
life  insurance,  conducted  on  scientific  principles,  requires  the  accumulation  of 
large  sums  of  money,  designated  as  the  legal  reserve,  to  guarantee  the  pay- 
ment of  future  obligations  that  are  certain  to  mature,  and  these  funds,  which 
in  the  operation  of  the  business  are  available  for  long  time  investments,  con- 
tributed by  citizens  of  the  Trans-Mississippi  country  in  the  enormous  amount 
of  eighty-four  million  dollars  annually,  ought  to  be  kept  in  the  West  and  in- 
vested in  the  western  country  by  men  familiar  with  local  conditions  and 
imbued  with  a  spirit  of  western  enterprise.  The  area  of  the  Trans-Mississippi 
empire  constitutes  nearly  two-thirds  of  the  National  domain.  It  is  the  ne*wer 
and  growing  part  of  the  country  and  capital  is  an  indispensable  factor  to  its 
continued  growth.  In  every  state  and  territory  west  of  the  Mississippi  River 
there  are  abundant  opportunities  for  the  highly  profitable  investment  of 
capital,  and.  as  a  rule,  the  prevailing  rate  of  interest  is  substantially  higher 
than  it  is  in  the  older  sections  of  the  country.  This  fact  illustrates  the  fun- 
damental law  of  supply  and  demand,  which  regulates  the  price  of  commodi- 
ties in  every  market.  In  the  older  and  wealthier  sections  there  are  not  the 
same  opportunities  for  investment  that  exist  in  the  Trans-Mississippi  section, 
where  the  natural  resources  and  wealth  of  the  country  have  been  but  par- 
tially developed. 

If  all  the  life  premiums  paid  by  citizens  of  the  twenty-two  Western  States 
and  Territories  were  available  for  investment  in  the  western  country,  it  would 
equalize,  to  a  great  extent,  the  difference  in  the  rate  of  interest  charged  in  the 
western  country  to  that  which  prevails  in  the  eastern  section.  The  three 
Coast  States  of  California,  Oregon  and  Washington  nay  every  business  day  of 
the  year  approximately  sixty  thousand  dollars  for  life  insurance,  or  in  round 
numbers,  eighteen  million  dollars  a  year  on  this  account.  California  has  one 
of  the  oldest  and  best  established  life  companies  in  the  Trans-Mississippi 
country,  and  if  every  western  state  had  a  company  of  equal  size,  it  would 
mean  a  practical  solving  of  the  financial  problem  as  affecting  the  future 
development  of  the  Trans-Mississippi   country. 

.  ___  Don't   Repeat   the  Error. 

The  most  practicable  method  of  developing  insurance  institutions  in  the 
West  is  for  western  people  to  insist  that  their  State  Legislatures  shall  not 
repeat  the  error  that  has  been  made  in  some  of  the  older  commonwealths  of 
the  Union,  where  laws  affecting  life  insurance  have  been  enacted  that  are 
restrictive  and  most  oppressive  in  their  operation.  During  the  past  few 
months  four  companies  in  the  Empire  State  of  New  York  have  practically 
gone  out  of  business  in  their  present  organization,  either  through  purchase 
or  reinsurance,  and  it  has  been  claimed  that  these  changes  are  the  result  of 
the  operation  of  the  laws  referred  to. 

It  is  the  duty  of  the  state  to  protect  the  citizen  in  the  business  of  life 
insurance  by  requiring  from  the  companies  absolute  safety  to  the  insured  and 
an  honest  administration  of  the  business.  Further  than  this  it  is  not  the  duty 
of  the  state  to  go,  and  an  attempt  to  restrict  and  limit  the  development  ot 
insurance   by   laws   which    undertake    to    establish    the   form  and    conditions    of 


70  REPORT    OF    PROCEEDINGS 

contracts,  is  irrational  and  unjust.  It  constitutes  an  aggravated  form  of  pater- 
nalism and  can  only  be  justified  upon  the  assumption  thai  the  American  husi- 
ness  man— sagacious,  resourceful,  keen-witted  and  mentally  powerful,  as  he  is 
universally  recognized   to  be — needs  a   guardian    when   he   attempts   to  make  a 


""»"  i  .^.i  1 1  .>      i  <y  "siii/.i-u     ii<     in ii  t-t-tis    a     l;  i  i.i  i  u  la  m     \\  nen     ne    a  1 1  em  p  i  s     hi     ma  ive    a 

life  insurance  contract,     in  some  of  the  older  states  the  constitutional  right  to 

make   a    contract    in    cases    pertaining    to    life    Insurance    lias    practically    i n 

taken     from    the    citizen. 


imiii<-.\  i-iuiiiai  is  issucu  by  American  companies  arc  so  liberal  and  attractive 
that  they  have  succeeded  in  establishing  targe  lines  of  business  in  the  older 
countries    of    Europe    in    competition    with    the    private    companies    domiciled 

therein  anil  also  with  the  governments  of  those  countries  having'  a  department 
of  insurance. 

'Flu*  Legislatures  of  the  Western  States  can  perform  no  more  useful  public 
service  iiian  i>>-  zealously  fostering  t ■> «-  development  of  Insurance  Institutions 
within    their   states    by   enacting   helpful    mid    friendly   legislation. 


By  President  Case: 

Under  the  rules  there  are  three  minutes  allowed  for  discussion  upon 
the  question  of  life  insurance.  I  would  like  to  hear  from  anybody  that  desires 
to  say  a  word  on  the  subject  of  life  insurance. 

Hy  Col.  Ike  T.  Pryor,  of  Texas: 

I  will  say  to  the  gentlemen  of  tin  Trans-Mississippi  Commercial 
Congress  that  I  have  listened  with  a  great  deal  of  interest  to 
the     valuable     and     instructive      talk     by     Colonel      Fleming.        I      have     my 

life  insured.  As  a  rule  people  who  take  out  policies  do  not  in- 
vestigate, do  not  understand  what  they  are  taking  out.  If  those 
who  have  listened  to  the  talk  of  Mr.  Fleming  will  read  it  and  ponder  over 
it,  it  will  give  them  an  idea  of  the  magnitude  of  the  insurance  business, 
will  give  them  an  idea  of  the  value  of  that  business  to  the  prosperity  of  this 
countrv.  And  I  tell  you  rierht  now  that  I  have  never  listened  to  an  address 
that  had  more  meat  in  it  than  that  address;  and  I  believe  it  is  worth  while  for 
us  all  to  read  it  over  again  after  it  has  been  printed,  and  1  hope  and  believe 
It  will  lie  printed  in  the  proceedings  of  this  meeting.  Seventy-flve  per  cent 
of  this  audience  have  insurance  on  their  life  for  the  hem  lit  of  those  who  are 
to  follow  them,  and  we  must  as  a  rule  trust  someone  else  to  tell  us  the  kind 
of  policy  we  should  buy.  We  do  nol  make  sufficient  studv  of  this  all-impor- 
tant ouestion:  we  do  not  enlighten  ourselves  to  the  extent  that  we  should. 
That  is  all  I  have  to  say.     (Applause.) 

By  Mr.  J.  J.  Gosper,  of  Los  Angeles: 

I  have  not  arisen  for  the  purpose  of  making  any  remarks  upon  the 
subject  of  life  insurance,  but  to  suggest  that  as  it  is  near  the  noon  hour,  and 
there  are  two  other  prisons  on  the  program,  and  if  a  motion  is  required,  I 


BENJAMIN     IDE     WHEELER,     Berkeley. 
President     l  Diversity    of    California. 


TRANS-MISSISSIPPI    COMMERCIAL    CONGRESS  71 

will  move  that  further  discussion  of  life  insurance  be  dispensed  with  and 
we  call  upon  you  as  chairman  to  proceed  in  the  regular  manner.  Shall  I 
make  a  motion? 

By    President   Case: 

Under  the  rules  of  the  Congress  each  one  of  you  is  allowed  the  short 
space  of  three  minutes  to  talk  about  the  question;  but  I  presume  there  is 
little  to  be  said  just  now  on  this  subject,  and  I  will  entertain  your  motion. 

By  Mr.  Gosper: 

I  move  you,  sir,  that  further  discussion  of  this  question  be  dispensed 
with  and  that  you,  the  Chairman,  call  for  the  next  order  in  the  exercises. 

By  a   Delegate: 

I  second  the  motion. 

(The  motion  was  formally  presented  and  carried.) 

By   President  Case: 

Gentlemen  of  the  Congress,  you  have  listened  to  an  educational  talk 
on  life  insurance,  to  men  who  have  discussed  South  American  trade  and 
foreign  trade,  all  of  which  are  of  educational  interest.  Next,  we  have  for 
you  now  a  treat  on  a  matter  of  educational  interest,  a  matter  in  which 
we  are  all  interested,  a  subject  of  the  greatest  importance.  There  are  in 
the  Trans-Mississippi  territory  nineteen  state  universities,  the  largest  one 
of  which  is  located  in  the  state  of  California,  one  which  is  second  to  none  in 
the  world  except  Harvard  University.  We  are  complimented  today  by  the 
presence  of  the  president  of  the  University  of  California,  and  it  is  with 
pleasure  that  I  introduce,  or,  rather,  present  to  this  Congress,  a  gentleman 
whom  you  all  know,  one  who  has  more  than  a  national  reputation.  I  now 
have  the  pleasure  and  the  honor  to  introduce  to  you  Benjamin  Ide  Wheeler. 

WEST    OF    THE    MISSISSIPPI    RIVER — WHAT    DOES    IT    MEAN? 
II >•   Henjainin   Iile  Wheeler,   President   University   of   California: 

I  recently  heard  a  man  account  for  a  case  of  stagnating  pessimism  by 
saying:  "They  don't  get  out  beyond  the  Missouri  River  often  enough."  The 
man  who  made  the  remark  was  the  President  of  the  United  States,  a  man  who 
himself  absorbed  a  good  deal  of  his  fine  sense  for  the  essential  mood  and 
manner  of  Americanism  through  his  own  sojourning  in  the  upland  ranges 
and  ranches  behind  that  self-same  river.  There  was  a  time  when  Mason  and 
Dixon's  line  made  the  frontier  between  the  two  constituent  moods  and  interests 
of  the  land;  nowadays  it  is  the  Missouri  and  the  lower  Mississippi  which 
mark  the  boundary  between  the  Nation's  halves. 

I  have  always  noticed  when  the  train  passes  North  Platte  coming  west. 
that  men  stop  wiping  their  necks  at  the  edge  of  the  collar,  and  that  they 
begin  to  ask  each  other  for  a  match,  without  reference  to  present  condition  of 
bank  account  or  previous  condition  of  servitude.     (Applause.) 

By  the  time  we  have  passed  Buffalo  Bill's  ranch,  agriculture  begins  to 
yield  to  grazing,  men  sit  on  top  of  the  horse  instead  of  behind  him,  and  the 
hat  brims  grow  stiffer.  (Laughter.)  And  then  you  begin  to  search  for  the 
concepts  hidden  in  the  phrase,  "beyond  the  Missouri  River."  and  concept  there 
must  be — otherwise  what  is  the  use  of  holding  a  Trans-Mississippi  or  Trans- 
Missouri  Congress?  And  concept  there  surely  is.  for  who  has  ever  Shifted 
his  life  from  one  side  of  this  frontier  to  the  other  without  feeling  he  is  in 
another    world? 

If  you  look  into  the  maps  in  the  physical  geographies,  .von  will  see  thai 
almost  all  the  land  beyond  the  river  is  painted  brown  in  deepening  shades; 
for  most  of  it  is  over  two  thousand  feet  above  the  level  of  the  sea.  The 
Trans-Missourians  are  nearer  the  stars,  but  farther  from  the  safe  deposit 
vaults.      (Laughter.)  .  .    , 

In  the  Trans-Missouri  region,  too,  the  air  is  thinner,  but  the  skin  is  thicker. 
It  has  to  be — (Laughter) — a  little.  The  sticks  are  bigger.  And  almost  every- 
body carries  one.  The  quality  of  itness  is  somewhat  more  generally  distrib- 
uted   amongst    the    population    than    over    yonder.      Hearts    beat    several    times 


72  REPORT    OF    PROCEEDINGS 

a  minute  more  here  than  over  yonder,  but  then  there  is  more  here  for  hearts 
to  do  than  there.  Here  the  blood  flows  freer,  there  the  perspiration. 
(Laughter.)  But  blood  is  thicker  than  water.  (Laughter  and  applause.) 
Here  the  air  Is  dryer,  there  the  hearts  are  dryer.     (Laughter.) 

Hoi'.-  to  the  u-i'st  ,,r  th,.  Missouri  is  the  land  of  elbow  room.  Everybody 
feels  it,  and  act?  it.  Everyone  likes  to  wear  his  arms  akimbo,  and  put  the 
space  to  some  good  use.  1  ><>  you  know  that,  though  we  have  here  but  one-fifth 
of  the  population,  we  have  a  good  half  <>f  the  area,  and  surely  two-thirds  of  the 
breeze.     We  are  a  breezy  people   in   a  breezy   world.      (Applause.) 

On  the  other  side  they  positively  jostle  against  each  other,  so  thick  are  they 
set.  Massachusetts  has  o-ln  to  the  square  mile,  New  York  1">0,  California  but 
9.  and  Wyoming  but  one.  Winn  a  man  has  a  whole  square  mile  all  to  himself, 
if  he  does  jostle,  he  is  likely  to  have  acquired  momentum  in  getting  there. 
And  that  is  what  we  find  in  fact.  Detached  cars  on  a  grade  unite  and  come 
to  a  halt  with  less  peaceful  results- than  a  well-coupled  train.  But  it  is  glorious 
to  be  free  and  have  room  enough.  The  biggest  men  there  are  the  biggest- 
hearted,  and  the  most  self-reliant  come  from  these  breezy,  free  square  miles. 
(Applause.) 

To  the  east  of  the  Missouri  they  are  wont  to  accept  the  rainfall  as  dis- 
pensed by  providence.  They  are  like  the  Puritan  settlers  of  New  England, 
who  voted  to  adopt  the  laws  of  Cod  until  they  had  time  to  make  better. 
(Laughter).  To  the  west  of  the  Missouri  they  propose  to  put  the  water  on 
the  ground  when  and  where  they  want  it.  It  has  an  audacious  ring,  especially 
when  there  isn't  any  water  in  sight,  but  it  is  part  and  parcel  of  that  whole 
endeavor  of  civilized  and  scienced  man  whereby  he  twists  nature  to  his  uses, 
and  by  prying  on  her  secrets,  with  what  he  calls  his  science,  learns  to  domes- 
ticate Iter  to  his  yoke  and  rule  her  by  means  of  her  own  habits.  The  uses  of 
civilized  life,  and  these  who  are  forced  to  practice  and  develop  it  receive 
thereby  high  education  both  in  the  scientific  control  of  nature  and  in  the 
sociology  of  co-operation. 

But  still  there  is  one  thing  which  more  than  dry  air  or  dry  farming, 
more  than  heartbeats  or  elbow  room,  more  than  grazing  flocks  or  teeming 
mines  of  yellow  ore.  or  orchards  of  golden  fruit,  helps  to  yield  the  ultimate 
concept  of  "beyond  the  Missouri,"  and  that  is  the  long  haul.  Perhaps  this  is 
only  a  corollary  of  our  elbow  room,  but  certain  it  is  that  our  entire  social  and 
economic  existence  is  conditioned  by  the  fact  that  most  of  what  we  get  and 
what  we  send  must  be  carried  over  great  spaces.  In  railroads  we  live  and 
move,  and  in  transportation  we  have  our  being.  (Applause.)  Material  sub- 
stances, whether  ore  or  fruit  or  meat,  are  in  themselves  of  no  value,  but  only 
as  they  are  set  down  where  there  is  need  and  use  for  them.  Wealth  is  created 
not  by  growing  anything  or  digging  anything  out  of  the  ground,  but  by 
classifying  material  substances  and  transporting  and  assembling  them  accord- 
ing to  human  need  for  their  use.  The  railroads  are  our  great  public  instru- 
ment for  accomplishing  this  end,  and  nowhere  is  railroad  transportation  so 
closely  wrought  into  the  very  life-physiology  of  a  community  as  here  beyond 
the  Missouri.  It  is  a  matter  of  life  and  death.  It  is  not  raiment  or  ring, 
but  tissue  and  blood.  Their  joint  interests  are  not  separable.  The  prosperity 
of  the  one  is  the  prosperity  of  the  other.  A  finer  consciousness  of  this  mutual 
interdependence  and  of  a  mutual  responsibility  would  be  advantageous  to  both. 
(Applause. » 

The  railroads  must  know  they  have  a  duty  to  perforin;  they  hold  a  public 
trusteeship,  and  the  people  must  recognize  that  their  life  is  tied  up  with  the 
life   and   prosperity   of  the   railroad.      (Applause.) 

But  there  is  still  one  more  item  for  our  Trans-Missouri  concept.  The  early 
settlers  of  this  continent  occupied  first  a  fringe  of  the  Atlantic  shore,  and  their 
faces  were  set  toward  Europe  and  the  East.  Then  they  pushed  back  into  the 
interior,  but  they  backed  in;  their  faces  were  still  set  toward  the  Atlantic  and 
the  East.  It  was  not  until  the  prairie  schooners  had  crossed  the  Missouri  that 
prows  and  faces  were  set  toward  the  West.  (Applause.)  And  now  that  we 
have  found  another  ocean,  and  begin  to  see  that  our  Nation  has  destiny  and 
tasks  in  terms  thereof — a  destiny  and  tasks  that  well  may  make  its  future 
history  to  be  as  certainly  controlled  by  its  position  on  the  Pacific  facing  Asia 
as  was  its  earlj  history  controlled  by  its  position  on  the  Atlantic  facing 
Europe,  portentous  as  these  tokens  are,  it  still  remains  that  it  is  only  the 
people  of  the  prairie  schooner  and  their  successors  who  really  set  their  faces 
toward  the   West,      i  Applause.) 

And  that  is  the  thing  which  unites  us  in  a  common  work,  as  it  unites  us 
in  a  common  destiny;  thai  Is  the  reason  why  you  have  a  right  to  hold  a  Trans- 
Mississippi  Commercial  Congress,  and  empowers  you  to  continue  therewith; 
but  I  beg  you  will  come  over  to  Berkeley  and  see  me,  where  we  are  trying 
to  maintain  a  university  in  accordance  with  the  Trans-Missouri  ideals  for 
Trans-Missouri  uses  and  for  the  good  of  Trans-Missouri  folks.  (Prolonged 
applause.) 


1.     J.    C.    ST1  BBS,   Chicago. 


•2.      E.     II.     IIAHKIMAX. 


TRANS-MISSISSIPPI    COMMERCIAL    CONGRESS  73 

By  President  Case: 

It  has  been  the  purpose  of  the  Executive  Committee  to  have  Mr.  Harri- 
man's  representative  address  the  meeting  at  2  o'clock  this  afternoon,  but 
Mr.  J.  C.  Stubbs,  who  represents  Mr.  Harriman,  who  speaks  for  Mr.  Harri- 
man — Mr.    Harriman    in   his   telegram   to   me,   I   guess   I   am   not   going   to 
embarrass  Mr.  Harriman  by  saying  so,  stated  that  Mr.  Stubbs  would  represent 
him  and  that  he  would  be  responsible  for  what  Mr.  Stubbs  said.     In  other 
words,    they    have    talked    the    matter    over    together,    and    Mr.    Harriman 
regrets   more   than  anyone  that  he  could  not  be  present  at  this  meeting. 
I  want  to  say  at  this  time  to  the  delegates  of  this  Congress  that  there  has 
been  no  one  who  has  taken  more  interest  in  this  meeting  than  Mr.  E.  H. 
Harriman.     (Applause.)     It  has  been  to  me  an  inspiration.     You  know  that 
the   labors   of   this   Congress   sometimes   are   pretty   hard,   and   that  people 
in  their  busy  moments  forget,  or  rather,  leave  it  to  the   Executive   Com- 
mittee   to    look    after    everything   and   rightly    so,    perhaps.      At   times    the 
president  and  the    secretary  and   the   members   in   charge    sometimes   feel 
that  the  proper  interest  is  not  being  manifested,  so  that  any  interest  taken 
by  people  generally  is  appreciated.     We  had  this  evidence  of  interest  from 
Mr.    Harriman.     I   met   Mr.    Harriman   in    Omaha    at   his   request.      He   ac- 
cepted my  invitation,  appreciated  it,  as  I  have  said.     No  one  appreciated 
it  more.     He  stated  that  if  it  were  possible,  and  he  thought  it  wasi,  he 
would   be    at   this    meeting   and   make    an    address.      He    was    anxious    to 
meet  the  people  of  the   Trans-Mississippi  Commercial   Congress.     But  im- 
portant business  affairs,  such  as  you  and  I  know  that  he  has,  have  pre- 
vented his  being  here.     There  is  no  reason,  gentlemen  of  this   Congress, 
why  the   railroads   of   this   country   should  not  take  an  active    interest  in 
this  organization,  being  as  they  are  active  agencies  in  the  development  of 
the    Western    States.      I    deeply    appreciated    Mr.    Harriman's    personal    co- 
operation.    I  understand  that  never  before  has  a  railroad  ever  taken  such 
an  active  interest.     Mr.   Stubbs  will  now  represent  Mr.  Harriman.     He  is 
familiar  with  the  conditions,  and  I  want  the  men  of  this  Congress  to  greet 
Mr.  Stubbs  after  the  meeting.     If  there  is  anything  to  be  discussed  in  the 
way  of  railroad  transportation  after  Mr.  Stubbs  has  finished  his  remark; 
there  will  be  an  opportunity  for  each  member  to  discuss  it  for  a  period 
of  three  minutes.     I  hope,  however,  that  during  his  address,  he  shall  have 
the  floor  uninterruptedly.     I  now  have  the  pleasure  and  the  honor  to  intro- 
duce to  you,  Mr.  J.  C.  Stubbs.     (Applause.) 

TRANSPORTATION. 

By  Mr.  J.   C.   Stubbs,  Personal   Representative  of   Mr.   E.   H.   Harriman: 

Mr.  President  and  Gentlemen  of  the  Trans-Mississippi  Commercial  Con- 
gress' '  As  your  president  has  already  explained,  I  am  here  as  a  substitute 
Some  of  us  recall  that  during  the  Civil  War  the  substitute  was  looked  upon 
somewhat  with  disfavor  by  his  comrades,  the  motives  for  his  enlistment  being 
regarded  as  mercenary.  He  was  not  happy.  Not  so  in  this  case.  I  look  upon 
it  as  a  creditable  distinction  of  which  I  am  proud  and  for  which  I  am  thankful 
for  several  reasons:  ...    - 

First I   regard   it   as   distinctly    flattering   to   be   permitted   to   speak    to   a 

body  of  men  such  as  are  distinguished  by  appointment  to  this  Congress — a 
Congress  of  such  high  aims  and  broad  reach  in  the  industrial  progress  of  this 
Western  Empire. 

Second— To  me  it  is  a  gratifying  compliment  to  take  the  place  of  one  so 
able  so  public-spirited,  so  forceful  and  effective  as  I  know  my  Chief  to  be. 
No  view  of  Mount  Shasta  from  the  old  Sisson  stage  station  ever  impressed  me. 
I  rather  more  admired  the  symmetry  of  Black  Butte,  in  the  foreground.  But 
when  Shasta  is  seen  from  down  the  Sacramento  River,flfty  or  J*ven_seventj 
m 
th 
m 

before!  WTheCcalmT7udi'ciarhisto"ry    of    our   Civil    War,    its   causes   and   effects, 


71  REPORT    OF    PROCEEDINGS 

not  yel  been  written,  nor  will  it  be  until  at  least  another  generation  has 
passed.     This    man   can    wait. 

Third — it  has  given  me  an  unexpected  home-coming,  the  opportunity  t<> 
visit,  albeit  only  for  a  day,  the  birthplace  of  my  manhood;  the  city  and  state 
in  whose  growth  and  development  I  have  been  enlisted,  just  as  many  of  you 
are  enlisted  In  rebuilding  from  the  ruins  of  <  >i<i  San  Francisco  a  greater,  more 
beautiful  and  a  far  more  populous  city,  one  that  shall  nut  perish  despite  quake 
and  Ham.',  for  these  can  neither  wreck  nor  consume  the  undying  spirit  of  the 
Argonauts  of  '49,  which  lives  In  their  forceful  suns.   (Applause.) 

There  has  been  committed  to  the  management  of  Mr.  Harriman,  as  yuu  all 
kn'ow,  certain  railroad  systems  which  serve,  in  large  measure,  this  Trans- 
Mississippi  region.  Included  in  these  is  the  original  Trans-Continental  line — 
that  made  by  the  Union  Pacific  and  Central  Pacific  Railroads.  It  should  have 
been  dubbed  the  'Trans-Mississippi  Line."  Probably  those  railroad  systems 
represent  the  largest  investment  of  money  of  any  productive  enterprise  in  all 
the  territory  within  the  United  States  lying  west  of  the  Mississippi  River. 
They  are  also  the  largest  individual  employers  of  labor.  Directly  and  through 
these  employees  they  are  the  greatest  consumers  of  the  products  of  farm. 
forest  and  factory.  Further,  it  may  be  said  that  the  sale  of  transportation — 
the  product  of  these  enterprises-  Invites  the  custom  and  supplies  in  some 
near  or  remote  waj  an  essential  need  of  every  Inhabitant  of  the  territory 
served  by  them,  it  would  seem  to  follow  that  whomsoever  is  charged  with 
the  management  of  these  railroads,  should  he.  personally,  or  through  close 
associates,  nol  only  acquainted  with  but  alongside  of  and  in  touch  with  every 
movement  that  makes  for  the  good,  the  growth  in  material  wealth  ami  the 
happiness  of  the  people  in  these  Far  Western  states. 

These  are  the  reasons  why  Mr.  Harriman  accepted  the  invitation  to  he 
present,  and  they  furnish  the  excuse  for  sending  me  here.  Mr.  Harriman 
greatly  desired  to  come.  He  planned  to  do  so.  Less  than  ten  days  ago  he 
w  as  forced  to  give  it  up. 

I  thank  you,  Mr.  President,  for  the  invitation,  and  I  thank  you,  gentlemen, 
for  >  our  welcome. 

In    a    general    way    what    I    have   said   about   the   relations   of   these   railroad 

pr rties    to   the   public   weal    is   known    to   this   audience,   also   by    those    who 

have  considerable  dealings  with  the  railroads  which  bring  them  in  contact 
with  the  men  who  manage  them.  It  may  he  said,  however,  that  in  its  large 
significance  it  is  not  appreciated  by  the  majority  of  the  people  who  con- 
stantly, and  more  or  less  directly,  use  the  railroads.  A  great  majority  of  citi- 
zens who  are  served  by  the.  railroads  indirectly,  hut  nevertheless  in  a  way  ami 
measure  that  make  for  their  well-being,  do  not  apprehend  the  interdependence 

or  right  relations  of  the  public  and  the  carrier.  Many  of  them  in  their  atti- 
tude to  the  railroads  are  like  the  freshly  arrived  Immigrant,  who  was  "agin 
the  Government"  on  principle,  he  said.  He  did  not  know  that  his  word 
"principle"  was  a  misnomer;  that  he  was  really  governed  by  prejudice,  the 
product  of  ignorance. 

The  publicity-compelling  feature  of  the  amended  Interstate  Commerce 
law    is  expected  to  do  something  towards  dispelling  a  quite  e non  prejudice 

which  arises  from  ignorance,  but  1  think  there  must  be  a  popular  and  wide- 
spread  dissemination   id'   information   on    this  subject. 

It  has  seemed  to  me  that  the  men  are  too  numerous  who  do  not  under- 
stand or  who  refuse  to  recognize  that  railroads  are  property,  entitled  to  the 
protection  as  well  as  being  subjeel   to  the  restraints  of  the  law. 

Under  our  form  of  government  supervision  ami  regulation  by  law  might 
be    extended     to    any    Other    industrial    pursuit     if    the    people    willed    it.       It     has 

been  applied  to  railroads  because  of  their  monopolistic  nature,  and  the  well 
proven  fact  that  transportation  iii  this  country  is  absolutely  necessary  to  the 
well-being,  the-  industrial  life,  Of  the  people.  Hence  these  agencies  of  trans- 
portation must  be  restrained  and  regulated  lest  the  power  they  naturallj  exer- 
cise be  used  to  the  hurt  rather  than  the  help  of  the  people.  But  fundamentally 
the  right  of  supervision  and  regulation  does  nol  go  to  the  extent  of  practical 
management,  nor  should  it  limit  the  rate  of  profit  below  that  which  other 
Investments  of  labor,  skill  and  money  commonly  yield. 

I   have  In   mind  the  visit  of  a   state   Railroad  Commissioner  to  the  general 

Offices   Of  a    small    railroad    many    hundreds   of   miles   from    this   city.      After   going 

,,Ver  the  accounts  of  the  railroad  company  and  finding  them  <>  K.  he  pointed  to 

the  balance  sheet  and  said:  "Vim  are  making  too  much  money;  too  much 
money."  That  illustrates  the  kind  Of  supervision  that  I  fear  is  becoming  too 
popular,  and  the  kind  of  regulation  which  seems  to  me  may  deprive  railroads 
of  protection  of  their  common  property  rights. 

Such  agencies  as  this  Congress  can,  and  I  hope  will,  he  effective  as  a 
means  of  disseminating  the  truth  concerning  the  carriers'  rights  and  needs, 
as    well    as    the    rights    and    demands    of    the    ] pie. 

The  territory  represented  by  this  Congress  is  the  larger  part,  and  daily  is 
becoming  a  more  Important   pan   of  our  country,     its  area   is  over  two  million 


TRANS-MISSISSIPPI    COMMERCIAL    CONGRESS  75 

square  miles — about  sixty  per  cent  of  the  area  of  the  United  States  exclusive 
of  Alaska  and  tne  insular  possessions.  Its  growth  in  wealth,  in  population 
in  all  the  products  of  civilization,  furnishes  a  remarkable  chapter  in  history. 
Such  conventions  as  this  show  the  desire  and  purpose  of  the  people  of  the 
Trans-Mississippi  territory  to  do  nothing-  to  retard,  and  to  leave  nothing 
undone  that  will  promote,  its  further  progress. 

It  g-oes  without  saying  that  our  endeavors  must  be  honest.  I  firmly  be- 
lieve that  they  must  be  co-operative.  In  using  the  term  "co-operative"  I 
have  in  mind  especially  the  relations  of  the  railroads  with  the  general  public 
the  essential  interdependence  of  which  I  have  just  spoken.  That  interdepend- 
ence does  not  exclude  the  ordinary  features  of  exchange — of  byving  and 
selling.  It  should  not  prevent  fair  competition,  nor  should  it  forbid  curbing 
by  law  the  unjust  use  of  power  by  capital  or  by  labor,  by  corporations  or  by 
individuals,  but  it  does  suggest  to  a  wise,  a  just  and  a  generous  public  senti- 
ment the  inexpediency  of  making  any  person  or  class  of  persons,  or  any  busi- 
ness association  of  persons — in  firms  or  in  corporations — the  football  of  what 
is  called  politics,  and  it  does  forbid  treating  any  such  as  a  sort  of  industrial 
Frankenstein.  Now  please  do  not  mistake  the  intent  or  spirit  of  that  remark. 
It  is  not  a  complaint;  not  even  a  protest.  It  is  simply  the  thought  of  one 
whose  employment,  and  ambition,  and  pride  is  inwrought  with  what  is  under- 
stood to  be  the   object   of  this  Congress. 

The  several  sides  of  a  square  are  equal.  A  deal  implies  at  least  two  par- 
ties. A  "square  deal"  means  that  the  deal  must  be  fair  to  both,  or  each  and 
every  party  to  it.  That  is  all  you  want;  that  is  all  we  shall  ever  contend  for 
as  railroad  men  dealing  with  the  public. 

Our  Government  acquired  nearly  three-fourths  of  this  Trans-Mississippi 
country  by  purchase,  paying  therefor  an  aggregate  of  fifty-three  and  a  quarter 
millions — not  quite  five  and  one-half  cents  per  acre.  The  land  acquired  by 
treaty  was,  probably,  no  more  and  no  less  valuable  than  that  which  was 
bought.  The  approximate  total  cost  then  was  seventy-three  million  dollars. 
Its  estimated  value  now,  according  to  the  Bureau  of  the  Census,  is  thirty-two 
and  one-half  billions,  or  four  hundred  and  forty-five  times  its  value  when  the 
United  States  acquired  it,  and  six  hundred  times  as  much  as  the  cost  of  that 
which  was  purchased.  This  increase  in  value  is  marvelous.  It  cannot  be  dupli- 
cated in  the  history  of  the  world.  It  reflects  the  greatest  credit  upon  the 
energy  and  enterprise  of  those  who  have  come  from  all  parts  of  the  earth  to 
this  section  to  till  its  farms,  work  its  mines  and  build  its  cities. 

The  trans-continental  railroad  lines,  or  rather  the  one  described  as  having 
been  first  completed,  as  you  all  know,  historically  at  least,  was  built  by  the 
aid  of  the  General  Government.  The  United  States  advanced  large  sums  of 
money  to  the  companies  which  promoted  and  built  these  roads,  but  do  you 
know*  what  is  true,  that  the  last  dollar  of  those  advances  has  been  returned 
to  the  Government,  with  interest?  You  know  that  the  Congress,  in  aid  of 
the  project,  gave  every  odd  section  of  Government  land  within  twenty  miles 
of  the  completed  road.  The  Government's  price  for  the  land  was  $1.25  per 
acre,  but  do  you  know,  what  is  also  true,  that  the  price  of  the  adjoining  even 
sections,  retained  by  the  Government,  was  immediately  doubled?  1  >o  yon 
know  that  the  Government  reserved  the  right  to  fix  the  rates  to  .be  charged 
for  transportation  service  performed  for  it  by  these  land  grant  roads,  and  has 
exercised  that  right  by  paying  only  half  of  the  going  rates?  That  is  likewise 
a  fact.  Do  you  also  know,  what  is  demonstrable,  that  the  saving  to  the  Gov- 
ernment in  the  cost  of  transijortation  and  in  the  cost  of  caring  for  and  con- 
trolling the  Indian  tribes,  by  the  construction  and  operation  of  these  lines. 
will  aggregate  much  more  than  the  sums  advanced  to  these  companies,  with 
interested  compounded  annually? 

These  questions  are  asked  and  answered  to  stimulate  pride  in  the 
Administration  of  our  Government  as  a  marvelously  successful  trader;  to 
express  mv  gratification  in  the  payment  of  the  debt,  which  I  believe  will 
be  equally  gratifying  to  you,  and  to  record  my  wondering  admiration  of  the 
prescience  of  our  forefathers,  going  back  to  the  senatorial  days  of  Thomas 
H.  Benton.  I  believe  that  the  opportunity  for  industrial  development  through 
these  very  means  of  transportation — the  interchange  by  an  increasingly  great 
population,  of  the  products  of  the  brain  and  brawn  of  the  greatest  people  the 
earth  has  ever  known — in  the  next  two  generations  will  be  as  numberless 
and  as  fruitful  as  they  have  been  from  Benton's  days  until  now.  (Applause.) 
Shall  we  not  cultivate  the  spirit,  the  energy,  the  self-restraint,  essential 
to   successful    pursuit    of   that  prospect? 

Perhaps  you  will  pardon  a  prediction  T  am  tempted  to  make,  thai  the 
Government's'  investment  in  the  Panama  Canal,  after  forty  years  01  opera- 
tion, will  not  show  in  whole  nor  in  any  particular,  even  as  an  engine  or 
defense  in  time  of  war.  any  such  profit,  although  I  hope  n  shall.  I  hat  enter- 
prise is  no  longer  debatable.  It  is  under  way  with  promise  ol  success,  and 
I  shall   ioin  you  in  saying  "God   speed  it"!      (Applause.) 

I  have  little  knowledge  of  the  discussions  by  previous  sessions  oi  this 
congress,  or  of  their  subjects.     I  apprehend  their  range  was   wide.      My   atten- 


76  REPORT    OF    PROCEEDINGS 

tion  was  called  to  what  seemed  to  be  the  dominant  note  of  the  congress  of 
1907,  at  Muskogee,  Oklahoma,  that  is,  the  improvement  of  the  inland  water- 
ways and  harbors.  Some  who  spoke  to  that  question  in  fervent  advocacy  of  the 
Improve at,  founded  their  contention  upon  the  great  influence  such  im- 
provement would  exercise  in  regulating  rates  for  freight  and  passenger 
traffic  charged  by  the  railroads.  One  speaker  said  that  it  would  be  greater 
than  the  Influence  many  Interstate  Commerce  Commissions  could  ever  hope 
to  exercise.  Another  declared  that  what  is  needed  is  to  furnish  natural  and 
inevitable  compel  it  ion  of  railroads.  Another  speaker  is  quoted  as  saying, 
"the  railroads  will  take  care  of  themselves,"  but  the  rivers,  harbors  and 
waterways  of  the  country  need  the  protection  of  the  Government." 

I  welcome  this  opportunity  to  say  that  my  people  do  not  object  to  the 
improvement  of  the  rivers,  the  harbors  and  the  waterways  of  this  country. 
That  work  belones  to  the  general  Government  and  should  be  done  at  what- 
ever cost,  wherever  there  is  a  substantial  need.  We  think  they  will  prove  to 
be    valuable    feeders    to    tin1    railroads.       I  Applause.) 

I  beg  your  further  indulgence  to  make  this  statement  also,  that,  so  far 
as  I  know  -and  I  ought  to  know — neither  Mr.  Harriman  nor  his  associates 
nave  antagonized  the  building  of  the  Panama  Canal.  Personally,  1  wish  it  had 
waited  on  the  rehabilitation  of  our  moribund  merchant  marine,  which  I 
believe  ought  to  be  the  next  great  endeavor  of  our  people.  (Applause.) 
But  the  Panama  Canal  was  inevitable  for  many  reasons.  The  more  pressing 
necessity  for  the  restoration  of  our  merchant  marine  is  not  a  recent  opinion 
of  mine;  I  urged  that  view  upon  the  Association  of  Merchants  and  Travelers 
at  Chicago  in  1900.  It  has  become  a  national  enterprise  and  no  one  would 
re-ret  more  than  I  and    mj    associates  the   failure  of  that  project. 

While  I  share  the  desire  of  many  far-seeing  and  public  spirited  American 
citizens  to  see  "Columbia  mistress  of  the  seas"  by  the  efficiency  of  her 
merchant  marine;  while  I  believe  with  Raleigh  that  "he  who  controls  the  ships 
of  the  world  commands  the  trade  of  the  world";  while  I  think  that  a  numerous 
fleet  of  domestic  high-class  s<  a-going  merchantmen  will  furnish  a  needed 
and  tremendously  effective  auxiliary  to  our  navy,  I  also  hold  the  opinion 
that  within  United  States  territory  lying  west  of  the  Mississippi  River,  in 
the  forbidding  soil  of  arid  plains,  in  the  bosom  of  the  rock-ribbed,  hard- 
faced  mountains,  and  in  the  shade  of  forests  of  giant  trees  that  no  other 
country  can  rival,  there  lies  an  undeveloped,  untouched,  practically  unknown 
wealth,  awraiting  the  open  sesame  which  a  just  union  of  labor  and  capital 
will  evoke.  (Applause.)  This  opinion  is  not  original  with  me.  Far  seeing 
statesmen  gave  it  better  expression  in  the  organization  of  the  highly  com- 
mendable Forest  Service  of  the  general  Government  and  the  organization 
and  prosecution  of  the  United  States  Reclamation  Service.  But  after  all  has 
been  or  can  be  well  done  by  the  general  public  by  legislation,  there  will  remain 
the  essential  need  for  transportation,  which,  for  by  far  the  larger  part  of 
the  country,   can    be  supplied   only   by   railroads. 

It  will  not  be  denied  that  the  work  and  enterprise  of  the  farmer,  the  miner, 
the  manufacturer  and  the  merchant  would  have  been  fruitless,  if  not  impos- 
sible without  the  aid  of  artificial  means  of  transportation.  Their  markets 
were  east  of  the  great  river  or  across  the  seas,  and  distance  was  the  least  of 
the  seemingly  insurmountable  obstacles  to  free  exchange  between  producer 
and  consume]-.  Railroads  entered  the  territory,  overcame  these  obstacles,  and 
it  may  fairly  be  said  were  and  will  be  the  chief  instrumentality  in  uncovering 
the  wealth  of  this  Trans-Mississippi  country.  By  no  other  known  means  could 
its  prosperity  have  been  builded;  by  no  other  known  agency  can  its  possible 
growth  be  realized.  Great  as  has  been  the  increase  of  wealth  in  the  past, 
there  lies  in  your  minds  and  mine  the  hope,  aye  the  promise  of  a  greater 
tut  me.  and  I  think  that  all  will  agree  that  to  fulfil]  that  promise  it  will  be 
necessary   to    improve,   to   enlarge  and    to    multiply   our   railroads. 

In  the  year  ended  June  30,  1906,  lor  every  loo  square  miles  of  its  area 
New  Jerseyhad  Hi  miles  of  railroad.  .Massachusetts  26,  Pennsylvania  25,  Ohio 
22,  Illinois*  21,  New  Fork  18.  In  the  same  year  for  every  100  square  miles 
Of  its  area  Missouri  had  12  miles  Of  railroad.  Kansas  11,  .Minnesota  10, 
Nebraska  2,  Nevada  1.  These  figures  show  how  much  railroad  development 
there  musl  be  west  of  the  Mississippi  before  the  states  in  this  section  will 
possess  as  ample  transportation  facilities  as  those  east  of  the  river. 

n  seems  to  me  plain  thai  the  first  step  towards  providing  this  growing 
demand  for  transportation  is  to  improve  the  efficiency,  to  increase  the  work- 
ing capacity  of  the  roads  now  in  use.  The  reason  is  simple.  Wha1  can  be 
done  iii  that  way  will  be  done  with  much  less  money  than  to  build  wholly 
new  Lines.  The  building  of  double  tracks;  the  reduction  of  curvatures;  the 
lessening  of  grades;  the  tunneling  of  mountains;  the  enlargement  of  ter- 
minals, many  of  them  accomplished  and  to  be  accomplished  at  an  almost 
appalling  com  are  all  undertaken  for  the  purpose  of  increasing  the  trans- 
portation facilities  Of  the  country  and  their  public  usefulness.  It  can  be 
done  in  thai  «;iy  at  less  cost  than  by  building;  new  railroads,  with  the  ad- 
vantage that  the  greater  number  of  those  who  use  the  railroads  will  be 
benefited  thereby. 

I  know  that  there  is  a  somewhat  popular  idea  that  the  new  and  separately 


TRANS-MISSISSIPPI    COMMERCIAL    CONGRESS  77 

managed  road  will  be  of  greater  public  benefit  by  promoting  competition  In 
the  minds  that  cherish  that  idea,  competition  usually  means  reducing  rates 
without  much  regard  for  who  is  hurt.  I  shall  have  to  confess  that  some  in- 
stances of  railroad  wrecking  and  the  many  cases  of  railroad  bankruptcy 
suggest  that  notion,  but  I  do  not  believe  that  either  the  present  or  prospective 
conditions  bearing  upon  that  question  justify  or  favor  its  retention.  Railroad 
rates  in  this  country,  as  a  body,  are  very  low — much  lower  than  in  any  other 
country.  Upon  the  average  they  have  yielded  smaller  returns  to  investors 
than  any  other  productive  industry  that  may  be  compared  fairly  with  the 
railroad  service.  Not  only  most  of  the  states,  but  Congress  has  taken 
a  masterful  hand  in  regulating  and  restraining  the  charges  of  railroads  so 
that  manifestly  the  public  is  amply  protected  from  extortion  and  other  forms 
of   injustice. 

The  pirating  of  one  railroad's  business  by  newly  constructed  rivals  that 
has  been  practiced  in  the  past,  will  not  be  possible  in  the  future.  What 
may  be  regarded  as  unreasonable  rates  by  shipper,  or  unjustly  discriminative 
rates  by  communities,  will  in  due  course  be  passed  upon  by  commissions  and 
courts,  and  in  the  not  far  distant  future — as  measured  by  the  life  of  our  na- 
tion— we  shall  have  a  system  or  body  of  rates  that  will  not  provoke  bitter 
contention  between  shippers  and  carriers,  though  the  usual  contention  be- 
tween buyer  and  seller  will  not  cease.  But  with  all  possible  improvements 
in  the  existing  railroads,  the  material  development  of  our  Western  States 
will  require  and  demand  much,  very  much  new  construction.  Much  of  this 
new  construction  as  well  as  the  improvements  of  existing  lines  is  now  or 
has  been  on  the  drafting  boards.  The  physical  problems  are  solved.  The 
building  waits  only  on  an  easier  money  market  and  the  revival  of  business 
which  is  sure  to  come  if  you  and  those  who  must  construct  and  manage  these 
roads  are  co-operative  in  a  good  business  sense.  If  we  shall  look  forward 
a  generation  there  are  thousands  of  miles  of  new  railroad  in  prospective 
demand. 

The  construction  of  a  railroad  anywhere  requires  vast  expenditures  of 
money.  In  our  country,  bordered  by  two  great  oceans  which  are  separated 
by  more  than  three  thousand  miles  of  the  most  varying  physical  conditions 
of  land  and  climate  to  be  found  on  any  continent,  this  capital  expenditure 
with  respect  to  the  transcontinental  roads  in  particular  was  not  only 
necessarily  large  in  the  first  instance,  but  the  rapid  growth  of  population 
and  industry  since  the  first  rail  was  laid  called  for  renewals  and  changes 
and  extensions  approximating  the  original  capitalization.  The  cost  of  main- 
tenance has  naturally  increased,  but  the  cost  of  operation  has  not  been 
reduced  in  proportion  to  the  expenditures  made  for  the  purpose  of  reducing 
it.  More  than  one  of  the  corporations  owning  a  transcontinental  line  have 
experienced  bankruptcy  and  been  reorganized — some  of  them  more  than 
once.  All  have  at  times  faced  great  financial  distress.  Dividends  equal  to  the 
going  rate  of  interest  for  long  loans  on  gilt  edged  securities  have  been 
a  recent  experience  to  them.  Thanks  to  the  wonderful  growth  in  population, 
the  vastness  of  the  hidden  wealth  of  forest  and  stream,  of  mountain  and 
plain,  which  needed  only  the  magic  touch  of  labor  and  capital  to  manifest 
itself,  I  think  we  are  out  of  our  troubles.  (Applause.)  The  treasure  is  there. 
Our   problem   is   to    gather    it   without    waste.  _ 

But  as  you  all  know,  or  may  infer  from  what  I  have  said,  while  the 
problems  of  the  past  have  been  measurably  solved,  we  are  facing  a  new  one 
that  is  iust  as  insistent  in  the  minds  of  far-sighted  men  as  was  the  building 
of  the  first  transcontinental  line  in  the  mind  of  Benton  and  his  coadjutors 
three  generations  ago.  It  is  for  more  and  better  railroad  facilities  in  this 
Western  country.  The  answer  to  this  demand  waits  on  the  necessary 
money,  which  in  volume  will  run  into  the  hundreds  of  millions  of  dollars. 
For  reasons  which  you  all  understand,  many  of  you  better  than  I  do,  capital 
has  become  chary  of  railroad  investment.  Perhaps  the  reason  most  effective 
in  restraining  the  investor  is  the  fear  of  unreasonable  limitation  by  the 
public    upon    the    returns    from   the   investment. 


78  REPORT    OF    PROCEEDINGS 

Southern  Pacific  in  the  years  1885  to  1906  was  1  per  cent.  The  average 
dividend  of  the  Union  Pacific  in  the  years  1884  to  1906  was  1.5  per  cent.  The 
average  dividend  of  the  Great  Northern  in  the  years  1890  to  1907  was  6  per 
cent.  The  highest  average  dividend  paid  by  any  of  these  roads  in  the  periods 
referred  to  was  only  a  little  more  than  one-half  as  much  as  the  American 
farmer  made  in  1905,  and  the  lowest  average  dividend  paid  was  only  one-tenth 
as  much. 

Gentlemen,  we  want,  we  need  —  the  continuous  growth  and  improvement 
(if  this  wonderfully  promising  territory  deinamlN,  more  railroads  and  enlarged 
and  improved  facilities  in  the  existing  roads.  The  expenditures  necessary 
to  these  ends  are  capital  expenditures.  The  needed  money  will  he  obtainable 
When  confidence  in  the  productiveness  of  railroad  investments  is  restored: 
when  co-operation  and  good  will  is  manifest  in  the  relations  of  the  people 
and  the  carrier;  when  it  is  promoted  by  the  individual  citizen;  when  it  so 
pervades  the  public  mind  as  to  find  expression  through  legislative  bodies; 
when  it  dominates  the  purpose  of  those  charged  with  the  investment  of  tin- 
enormous  sums  needed  for  such  great  works,  and  when  it  energizes  and 
illuminates  the  spirit  of  those  charged  with   the   management   of  the   railroads. 

When  these  conditions  prevail  the  needed  money  will  be  forthcoming, 
the  work  will  be  prosecuted  and  the  wheels  of  industry  begin  to  turn 
everywhere.  Then  there  will  be  no  idle  laboring  men  on  the  streets,  no 
salesmen  off  on  long  vacations,  nor  will  there  be  anxious  minds  in  the 
counting  house.  The  full  dinner  pail  will  be  the  escutcheon  on  the  door  of 
cottage    and    palace. 

Some  may  say  that  I  am  optimistic.  Well,  that  is  true.  I  am  looking  for 
the  substance — not  the  hole  in  the  doughnut.  "Faith  is  the  substance  of 
things  hoped  for;  the  evidence  of  things  not  seen."  That  is  a  divine  philosophy 
that  may  well  be  applied  to  human  affairs,  and  nowhere,  to  my  mind,  more 
productively  of  the  things  we  desire  and  hone  for  than  to  the  western  half 
of    Uncle    Sam's    territory.        (Prolonged    applause.) 

By   President   Case: 

We  have  only  about  ten  minutes  now  before  adjournment.  Possibly 
someone  desires  the  opportunity  of  speaking  three  minutes  upon  the  sub- 
ject of  transportation? 

By    Mr.   Alfred   Chartz,   of   Nevada: 

I  came  across  the  plains  in  1863.  Five  of  us  fitted  out  at  St.  Joe,  and 
when  we  landed  in  Oakland  and  crossed  the  bay  I  thought  there  were  millions 
of  us.  I  came  from  Carson  City,  Nevada,  the  place  where  the  great  Corbett- 
Fitzsimmons  fistic  battle  took  place.  We  have  there  within  our  wilds  no 
candidate  for  the  Presidency  of  the  United  States.  Having  now  located  my- 
self in  this  convention,  telling  who  I  am,  I  now  desire  to  ask  Mr.  Stubbs 
this  question;  I  would  like  to  have  it  answered  by  him  now;  is  it  true  that 
the  merchants  of  San  Francisco  oppose  the  giving  to  Nevada  of  the  same 
terminal  rates  that  they  themselves  enjoy?  This  is  the  only  question  I  desire 
to  ask. 

By   Mr.  G.  W.  Burton,  of  Los  Angeles,  California: 

I  want  to  express  my  unqualified  gratification  at  the  presence  of  Mr. 
Stubbs,  perhaps  the  most  accomplished  traffic  man  in  America,  who  conies 
before  this  Congress  to  speak  to  us  about  transportation.  1  wish  to  say  that 
it  is  a  new  thing  for  railroad  men  of  Mr.  Harriman's  caliber,  and  of  Mr. 
Stubbs'  caliber,  to  come  before  the  public  and  speak  to  them  and  try  to 
explain  to  them.  We  are  ignorant — I  speak  for  myself  as  one  of  the  public; 
we  all  know  too  little  about  this  great  topic  of  transportation;  and  when 
we  get  publicity,  when  the  railroad  men  will  come  and  talk  to  us  frankly 
as  Mr.  Stubbs  has  talked  to  us  today,  there  will  be  less  agitation  about  rail- 
roads and  other  corporations.  There  will  be  more  harmony  between  the 
railroads  and  the  people,  and  there  will  be  more  prosperity  in  the  country 
for  us  all.  As  I  am  a  newspaper  man,  there  came  to  me,  in  my  office,  not 
long  ago,  two  girls  from  the  East.  Their  mother  had  died  while  they  were 
together  in  Los  Angeles,  and  they  wanted  to  go  back  home  by  a  more  direct 
route  than  the  one  their  ticket  called  for.  The  railroad  people  would  not 
let  them  do  so.     They  came  to  me  and  wanted  me  to  "roast"  the  railroads. 


TRANS-MISSISSIPPI    COMMERCIAL    CONGRESS  79 

I  said,  "That  is  my  business;  I  am  a  good  cook;  I  have  got  the  fire,  and  I  have 
the  spit."  They  said,  "Here  is  a  ticket  which  reads  from  St.  Louis,  to 
Chicago  via  Los  Angeles,  and  back  home  via  Portland,  and  they  won't  let  us 
go  back  direct.  Our  mother  is  dead  and  we  want  to  go  home  by  the  most 
direct  route."  I  looked  at  the  tickets  and  then  told  them  that  there  were 
a  dozen  railroads  interested  in  that  contract  between  them  and  the  rail- 
roads, and  there  was  nobody  there  with  authority  to  change  their  contract. 
I  talked  to  them  for  about  five  or  ten  minutes  and  they  finally  went  away 
perfectly  satisfied. 

A  business  man — not  a  schoolteacher,  a  shipper  of  oranges — came  to 
me  two  years  ago  over  and  over  again  and  wanted  me  to  "roast"  the  rail- 
roads because  they  were  not  giving  him  cars  as  fast  as  he  wanted  them  for 
his  shipments.  I  said,  "They  have  not  got  cars;  they  will  give  you  cars  if 
they  have  them.  They  will  no  more  refuse  you  a  car  if  they  have  one,  than 
you  would  refuse  to  sell  a  car  of  oranges  if  you  have  them."  He  said,  "The 
yards  are  full  of  cars,"  but  I  told  him,  "They  are  foreign  cars  or  they  are 
cars  routed  back  by  way  of  New  Orleans,  or  they  are  routed  back  by  way 
of  St.  Paul,  or  some  other  particular  way,  and  the  Interstate  Commerce  laws 
forbid  their  routing  them  where  you  want  to  ship,  and  they  cannot  be  used 
for  your  purpose."  I  could  explain  to  the  girls,  but  I  could  not  explain  to  the 
business  man — he  would  not  have  it.  If  the  gentleman  from  Nevada  wants 
to  know  about  terminal  rates — down  at  San  Bernardino  a  dealer  in  agricul- 
tural implements  came  to  see  me,  and  he  also  wanted  the  railroads  roasted 
because  they  would  not  give  him  terminal  rates.  I  asked  him  what  he  sold, 
and  he  mentioned  among  other  things,  combined  harvesters.  I  said,  "How 
many  combined  harvesters  do  you  sell  in  harvest  time?"  He  answered, 
"Ten."  "How  long  does  it  take  you?"  "Five  or  six  weeks."  I  asked  him, 
"Can  you  carry  fifteen  combined  threshers  and  reapers  on  your  own  account; 
have  you  got  warehouse  room  for  them?"  He  answered,  "No,  I  have  neither 
the  capital  nor  the  warehouse."  I  said,  "Where  will  you  order  them  from?" 
"From  the  East,  where  they  are  made,  and  the  farmers  want  them  in  a 
hurry."  Instead  of  carrying  the  implements  on  hand,  he  expected  the  rail- 
road company  to  have  cars  sufficient  to  ship  them  from  the  East  out  here 
to  San  Bernardino  in  small  lots  as  he  wanted  them,  and  to  get  the  benefit 
of  the  terminal  rates,  and  he  blamed  the  railroads  if  while  the  farmer  was 
waiting  his  crop  would  be  ruined. 

I  think  the  gentleman  from  Nevada  does  not  fully  understand  these 
terminal  rates.  To  give  terminal  rates  to  every  point  in  the  interior  means 
to  destroy  every  wholesale  establishment  in  San  Francisco,  in  Los  Angeles, 
and  all  the  other  terminal  points,  and  would  interrupt  and  break  up  and 
destroy  the  great  traffic  in  which  we  are  all  interested.  I  am  not  criticizing 
anybody.  I  am  only  expressing  my  gratification  that  men  like  Mr.  Stubbs 
should  be  sent  here  by  Mr.  Harriman,  and  assist  us  in  understanding  more 
than  we  understand  now.     (Applause.) 

By   President  Case: 

Is  there  any  further  discussion?  We  have  neard  from  the  Pacific 
Coast.  I  see  before  me  one  of  the  distinguished  gentlemen  from  Kansas 
City,  who  knows  the  conditions  of  the  Central  West;  he  is  very  modest— 
Hon.  E.  L.  Scarrett,  of  Kansas  City.  I  would  like  to  have  him  give  us  a 
three-minute    talk   on   the    transportation    problem. 

By  Mr.   E.  L.  Scarrett: 

I  am  not  prepared  to  talk  on  this  subject  now,  and  I  would  only  say  that 
Mr  Stubbs  has  expressed  my  opinions  on  the  question  of  transportation, 
which  has  been  augmented  by  the  gentleman  from  California.  I  agree 
with  what  both  of  these  gentlemen  have  said,  relative  to  this  transportation 


80  REPORT    OF    PROCEEDINGS 

question.  It  would  take  too  long  a  time  to  discuss  any  phi.se  of  it,  and  I  want 
to  express  my  thanks  and  appreciation  to  the  president  for  calling  on  me, 
and  will  leave  the  question  where  it  is. 

By   President   Case: 

Gentlemen  of  the  Congress,  we  will  now  adjourn  until  2:30  P.  M.  I 
desire  to  say  that  this  afternoon  we  will  have  a  very  interesting  program, 
"The  Conservation  of  Natural  Resources. "  which  will  he  taken  up  im- 
mediately upon  convening  at  2:30. 


iuiin    C.   CUTLER,   S:iit    Lake    City. 
Governor  of   I  i»h. 


FIFTH  SESSION 

Vice-President  I.  T.  Pryor,  of  Texas,  called  the  Congress  to  order  in 
afternoon  session  at  2:30  o'clock  p.  m. 

By  Vice-President  Pryor: 

The  convention  will  come  to  order.  The  time  has  now  arrived  when 
we  should  continue  with  our  program  of  the  day.  In  the  first  place,  the 
secretary  has  some  announcements,  I  believe. 

By  Secretary   Francis: 

Announcement  is  made  that  the  name  of  Hon.  George  C.  Pardee  has 
been  placed  upon  the  Committee  on  Resolutions  from  California,  instead 
of  Mr.  C.  C.  Moore.  Governor  Pardee  will  report  to  the  committee  at  3 
o'clock. 

The  vacancies  on  the  Committee  on  Resolutions,  and  also  the  Committee 
on  Permanent  Organization,  are  as  follows: 

Arkansas,  Idaho,  Minnesota,  New  Mexico,  North  Dakota,  South  Dakota 
and  Wyoming.  We  have  received  word  that  some  of  these  delegates  are  en 
route.  If  there  are  any  delegates  present  from  those  states,  we  wish, they 
would  please  get  busy. 

By  Vice-President  Pryor: 

The  first  thing  for  the  afternoon  session  is  an  address  on  "The  Conser- 
vation of  the  Natural  Resources."  I  feel  very  sure  that  you  will  hear  an 
address  that  will  repay  you  for  coming  early.  I  introduce  to  you,  and  it 
gives  me  great  pleasure  to  do  so,  Governor  John  C.  Cutler,  of  Utah,  who  will 
speak  to  you  upon  the  topic  announced. 

CONSERVATION   OF   NATURAL,  RESOURCES. 
By  Hon.  John  C.  Cutler,  Governor  of  Utah. 
By  Mr.  Cutler,  Salt  Lake  City: 

I  am  proud  to  represent  a  State  that  can  claim  credit  for  a  great  deal  of 
the  growth  of  the  Trans-Mississippi  region.  A  pioneer  in  the  settlement  of 
this  region,  Utah  has  been  a  leader  in  movements  for  its  development.  One 
of  the  most  important  of  these  is  the  formation  and  growth  of  this  splendid 
organization,  the  Trans-Mississippi  Commercial  Congress.  I  recall  with  pleas- 
ure the  fact  that  Utah  men  were  prominent  in  the  establishment  of  this 
Congress,  and  that  a  Utah  man,  the  Honorable  E.  P.  Ferry,  was  its  second 
president.  I  am  sure  you  will  agree  with  me  that  his  work,  and  that  of  the 
other  two  presidents  Utah  has  provided,  Honorable  George  Q.  Cannon  and 
Honorable   John  Henry   Smith,   are   a  source   of   great   pride   to   Utah   people. 

Utah  has  furnished  more  presidents  for  this  great  organization  than  any 
other  state  except  Missouri.  But  then,  Missouri  is  always  showing  others 
how  to  do  things,  while  demanding  to  be  shown  why  she  shouldn't  do  them. 
Utah  has  had  the  honor  of  entertaining  the  Congress  twice,  taking  seem,! 
place  only  to  Missouri  in  this  respect.  And  we  are  keenly  anticipating  the 
pleasure  of  entertaining  the  Congress  again  just  as  soon  as  you  ladies  and 
gentlemen  will  make  up  your  minds  to  bring  it  to  our  State.  It  can't  be  any 
too  soon  to  suit  us. 

I  accepted  with  pleasure  the  invitation  of  your  president,  Honorable  .7. 
B.  Case,  to  address  the  Congress  on  the  subject  of  the  conservation  of  re- 
sources, because  I  had  seen  the  vast  importance  of  the  policy  of  preserving 
the  natural  wealth  of  the  country  for  the  benefit  of  our  children,  I  feel 
that  there  is  little  need  for  me  or  any  other  man  to  defend  or  justit.v  this 
policy  of  the  Government  before  this  representative  body  of  foremost 
citizens  of  the  Trans-Mississippi  region.  Opposition  to  it  is  based  on  a  lack 
of  understanding  or  on  short-sighted  selfishness;  and  I  can  not  attribute  eI1 
of  these   to   the   ladies   and   gentlemen   I   see   before   me   today. 

Opposition    based    on    these    two    principles    usually    descends    to    calling 
names,  applying  epithets,   or  attacking  with   ridicule  or   misrepresentation 
measures  proposed  and   the  men  advocating  them.     It    is    therefore  not   a]    all 
surprising  that  most  of  the  opposition  to  President  Roosevelt  s  policies  looking 
to   the  conservation   of   the   great   natural   resources   of   the   country,    has    been 


82  REPORT    OF    PROCEEDINGS 

of  the  sort  referred  t".  Such  epithets  as  "autocracy,"  "tyranny,"  "grand- 
stand play,"  "Kins  Lear  policy,"  "insincerity,"  and  many  others  equally 
final  anil  convincing,  have  been  used  over-time,  in  season  anil  out  of  season, 
by  the  opponents  of  this  policy.  Ami  yet  there  lias  been  no  good  argument 
against  it.  unless  you  can  apply  the  term  i < .  the  statement  thai  we  have 
these  resources,  ami  if  we  choose  to  exhaust  them  we  have  a  right  to  do  so. 
Leaving  our  children  and  our  children's  children   to  shift   fur  themselves.     But 

this  appears  to  me  the  doetrine  of  selfishness  ami  tyranny,  for  it  is  equal  to 
the  claim  that  the  power  to  do  a  wrong  thing  justifies  the  doing  of  it. 
With  such  a  doetrine  I  can  not  agree,  nor  do  I  think  any  of  you  can 
entertain    it. 

As  to  the  "King  I. ear  policy,"  I  will  merely  pause  long  enough  to  say 
that  King  Lear  gave  his  kingdom  to  his  daughters  while  he  was  still  com- 
petent to  administer  it.  He  ought  to  have  retained  It  until  he  became  in- 
capacitated, and  then  given  it.  unimpaired,  to  his  children.  That  is  the  true 
conservation  policy.  We  are  to  use  with  economy  and  prudence  and  judg- 
ment the  wonderful  resources  we  possess.  But  we  are  to  give  those  re- 
sources, not  only  unimpaired  and  undiminished,  but  increased  and  improved, 
to  our  children,  to  be  so  transmitted  to  coming  generations.  If  inducing 
us  to  do  this  is  tyranny,  let  its  opponents  make  the  most  of  it.  Anything 
less  is  downright  injustice  to  unborn  generations,  and  a  tacit  acknowledg- 
ment   that    we   are    not    the    advanced    and    civilized    people    we    claim    to    be. 

The  policy  involves  just  enough  prudence  and  self-sacrifice  to  make 
coming  generations  secure  in  their  heritage.  As  we  expect  them  to  excel  us 
in  enlightenment  and  achievement,  we  should  leave  to  them  the  facilities 
necessary  to  make  their  advancement  effective.  To  provide  for  their  educa- 
tion and  training;  to  increase  their  physical  and  mental  efficiency,  and  at  the 
same  time  to  deprive  them  of  the  material  means  of  applying  this  efficiency, 
is  "to  keep  the  word  of  promise  to  their  ears,  and  break  it  to  their  hopes.' 
It  is  like  placing  the  implements  of  improvement  in  their  hands  and  then 
removing  all  opportunity  for  their  proper  use.  It  is  useless  for  us  to  maintain 
schools  and  teach  our  children  trades,  and  develop  in  them  a  high  mental 
and  manual  skill,  if  at  the  same  time  we  rob  them  of  the  elements  on  which 
alone  this  skill  can  be  employed.  It  is  contrary  to  the  American  spirit  of 
fair  play  and  equal  opportunity  for  all,  to  oppose  the  policy  of  preserving 
and  transmitting  to  our  children  increased  material  wealth  and  improved 
opportunities.  I  believe  the  time  is  at  hand  when  we  shall  disprove  the 
statement  widely  made  and  too  generally  justified  and  believed,  that  the 
American    nation    is   the    most    extravagant    on    earth. 

So  much  by  way  of  explanation  of  the  nature  and  purpose  of  conserva- 
tion: but  not  by  way  of  defense  of  the  policy,  for  it  needs  no  defense.  Tn 
speaking  on  the  broad  subject  itself,  two  courses  are  open  to  me.  One  is 
to  speak  in  general  terms;  the  other,  to  present  some  practical  phases  of 
the  subject  as  they  apply  to  my  own  State,  and  in  similar  localities.  For 
two  reasons  I  shall  pursue  the  latter  course.  First,  because  there  are 
gentlemen  announced  to  speak  who  can  treat  the  general  subject  more 
effectually  through  having  made  a  specialty  of  it:  secondly,  because  the 
statements  I  shall  make  on  the  practical  application  of  conservation  in  Utah 
may   lead   to  suggestions  of   value   by    gentlemen   from   other   states. 

Broadly,  the  resources  we  wish  to  conserve  under  the  policy  now  con- 
templated are  the  soil,  the  water,  the  forests,  and  the  minerals.  Everj 
state  is  interested  in  each  of  these  subjects  in  its  own  way.  I  shall  say  some- 
thing of  the  nature  and  extent  of  Utah's  interest  in  these  objects  of  conserva- 
tion: my  aim  being  to  indicate  each  phase  briefly  rather  than  discuss  it  in 
full. 

We  have  not  yet  reached  die  point  in  I'tah  where  conserving  the  soil 
interests  us  so  much  as  getting  more  of  it  under  cultivation.  The  scarcity 
of  water  is  still  keeping  millions  of  .ores  barren  ami  unproductive,  although 
rich  in  potential  fertility.  Therefore  the  soil  and  the  water  are  of  equal 
and  similar  importance  as  objects  of  conservation.  Large  irrigation  projects, 
undertaken  by  the  state  and  the  Federal  Government,  are  reclaiming  thousands 
of  acres  each  year.  Arid  farming,  just  making  a  commencement,  bids  fair 
to  redeem   the   barren   laud   still   more   rapidly. 

But  there  is  another  plan  for  Increasing  the  acreage  of  irrigated  lands. 
which  I  think  may  well  receive  attention.  And  the  advantage  of  it  lies  in 
the  fact  that  in  carrying  it  out  we  shall  also  conserve  our  mountain  streams 
anil  utilize  the  immense  water  power  thev  represent.  On  account  of  the 
rapid  fall  of  the  mountain  torrents,  it  is  possible  to  build  two  or  three  power 
plants  on  each  of  them,  before  the  water  reaches  the  level  plain.  By  means 
of  the  long-distance   transmission   of  the  electricity   thus   generated,   pumping 

plants  situated  on  the  shores  of  lakes  or-  the  hanks  of  rivers  that  run  below 
the  arable  soil,  can  be  operated,  and  the  water  lifted  up  ami  poured  on  the 
land.  The  great  inventor.  Thomas  A.  Bdison,  who  was  recently  in  Utah, 
advocated  this  Idea.  lb1  probably  did  not  know-  that  this  very  thing  is  being 
(lone  in  I'tah:  and  1  crave  your  indulgence  while  I  speak  of  one  instance  of 
its    practical    operation. 

Thirty    miles    south    of    Salt     Lake    City    lies    Utah    Lake,    a    body    of    fresh 


TRANS-MISSISSIPPI    COMMERCIAL    CONGRESS  83 

water  twelve  miles  wide  and  fifty  miles  long.  At  certain  seasons  of  the  year 
the  water  of  the  lake  is  too  low  to  run  into  the  canals  that  leave  the  lake 
and  water  the  high  hench  lands  of  Salt  Lake  Vallev.  This  is  remedied  bv  a 
pumping-  station,  located  near  the  source  of  the  Jordan  River,  which  flows  out 
of  Utah  Lake  into  Great  Salt  Lake.  The  pumps  are  operated  with  power 
supplied  by  one  of  the  numerous  streams  that  flow  from  the  mountains  into 
the  lake.  On  this  stream  there  are  already  two  power  plants  of  one  thousand 
horsepower  each,  with  the  likelihood  of  still  another  being  built  Thus  the 
water  is  made  to  do  service  over  and  over  again.  It  operates'  the  power 
plants;  then  irrigates  the  land  lying  between  the  canyon  and  the  lake  fortv 
per  cent  of  it  seeping  into  the  lake;  then  it  is  lifted  from  the  lake  bv  the 
power  it  generated  while  tumbling  down  the  mountains,  and  fertilizes  the 
lands  in  the  valley  below.  I  do  not  know  of  a  better  illustration  of  the 
conservation  of  resources  and  the  multiplication  and  use  of  the  benefits  of 
water. 

You  must  understand  that  the  land  lying  along  the  foot  of  our  mountain 
ranges  is  of  immense  value  for  orchards.  But  without  water  it  cannot  be  used 
for  fruit  cultivation.  By  lifting  the  water  up  to  this  land,  it  mav  be  re- 
claimed from  its  barren  state,  or  at  least  advanced  from  the  status  'of  grain 
land  with  a  yearly  production  of  $15  or  $20  an  acre,  to  the  dignitv  of  fruit 
land,  producing  annually  hundreds  of  dollars  an  acre.  I  stand  appalled  at 
the  amount  of  coal  it  would  require  to  furnish  this  power  for  pumping  pur- 
poses. Thus  our  mountain  streams  become  a  most  important  element  in 
preserving  our  coal  supply  and  increasing  the  value  and  productiveness  of 
the  land. 

The  subject  of  forest  preservation  is  so  closely  allied  with  the  one  just 
spoken  of  that  it  can  scarcely  be  treated  separately.  In  Utah  fully  as  much 
perhaps,  as  elsewhere,  replenishing  and  controlling  the  streams  must  depend  on 
the  forests.  The  forests  of  our  State  and  the  source  of  our  streams  are 
together,  in  the  tops  of  the  mountains.  The  trees  and  underbrush  play  a 
most  important  part  in  the  banking  of  the  winter  snow  and  in  protecting 
it  from  the  .direct  rays  of  the  spring  sun,  so  that  its  melting  will  be  gradual. 
Also  in  softening  the  ground  so  that  the  water  soaks  into  the  soil,  to  come 
out  in  springs,  instead  of  flooding  off  the  surface.  These  things  make  the 
difference  between  the  stream  which  devastates  the  soil  by  cutting  deep 
gullies  in  it,  and  washing  its  strength  into  the  river  or  the  lake,  and  the 
stream  that,  like  the  Nile  in  Egypt,  spreads  fertility  and  strength  over  the 
land. 

And  yet,  notwithstanding  the  perfectly  obvious  importance  of  these 
forests  in  the  material  economy  of  the  State,  I  think  I  am  safe  in  saying 
that  the  main  reason  all  our  forests  are  not  destroyed  is  that  very  many 
of  them  are  inaccessible.  They  are  far  away,  in  the  heads  of  great  canyons, 
four  or  five  thousand  feet  above  the  valleys,  and  practically  beyond  the 
reach  of  any  road  that  man  can  construct.  I  don't  know  but  it  is  well  that 
this  is  so;  for  until  the  strong  hand  of  the  Federal  Government  was  laid  on 
loggers  and  sawyers,  they  seemed  to  attach  no  sacredness  to  our  timber,  nor 
considered  it  worthy  of  the  slightest  thought,  except  for  immediate  and 
ruthless  use.  The  devastating  ax  and  saw  and  the  still  more  destructive 
forest  fire  have  laid  bare  thousands  of  acres  of  splendid  timber  lands  in 
Utah. 

In  view  of  the  fact,  however,  that  additional  timber  is  needed  in  Utah, 
not  only  for  the  sake  of  the  water  supply  but  also  for  use,  I  am  pleased  to  be 
able  to  say  that  the  Government  has  taken  in  hand  the  re-forestizing  of 
our  mountain  sides.  A  planting  station  has  been  installed  near  Salt  Lake 
City,  with  a  capacity  of  about  two  million  trees  a  year.  I  am  informed 
that  already  this  year  the  first  trees  to  be  taken  from  the  nursery  to  the 
planting  grounds  have  been  put  in  place;  and  that  other  stations  will  be 
established  when  possible,  and  the  capacity  of  this  one  will  be  increased. 
In  a  few  years  these  trees  will  be  doing  their  share  in  the  way  of  water  con- 
servation; and  in  due  course  our  grandchildren  will  be  cutting  them  for 
lumber  and  incidentally  calling  down  blessings  on  the  heads  of  the  men, 
by  that  time  dead  and  gone  for  many  years,  who  are  now  doing  this  work 
of  re-forestizing. 

Under  the  present  law  twenty-five  per  cent  of  the  grazing  fees,  sales 
of  timber,  etc.,  from  the  forest  reserves,  will  be  returned  this  year  to  the 
states  to  be  apportioned  to  the  counties  in  which  the  forest  reserves  are 
located,  for  the  use  of  the  schools  and  roads;  last  year  Utah  received  $!).0oo, 
and  this  year  it  will   receive   $32,000. 

I  take  the  liberty  of  suggesting  for  your  consideration  thai  the  law 
be  amended  so  that  fifty  per  cent  instead  of  twenty-five  per  cent  should  be 
returned   for   said   purposes. 

In  soil  conservation  not  much  has  yet  been  done  in  Utah.  As  I  re- 
marked before,  we  have  been  so  busy  bringing  new  land  under  cultivation 
that  but  scant  attention  has  been  paid  to  the  strengthening  of  the  old.  It 
has  not  been  so  necessary  as  in  older  states,  for  obvious  reasons.  Two  con- 
ditions in  Utah,  besides  the  youth  of  the  land,  have  tended  to  preserve  the 
vigor  of  the   soil.      Especially  in   the   spring,   the   streams   that   flow  down   into 


84  REPORT    OF    PROCEEDINGS 

the  valleys  from  the  tops  of  the  mountains,  carry  with  them  a  great  deal  of 
rich  soil,  filled  with  vegetable  mold,  and  spread  it  over  the  level  lands.  In 
fact  this  erosion,  from  the  lands  that  are  too  much  tilted  even  for  a  western 
farmer,  to  the  valleys,  is  almost  the  only  erosion  we  have  in  Utah;  and  by 
it  all  of  our  fertile  valleys,  among  the  finest  in  the  world,  have  been  made 
and  kept  rich  and  loamy.  This  silt  from  the  mountains  is  worked  into  the 
older  soil,  renewing  its  youth.  In  addition,  the  erosion  so  common  and  violent 
in  regions  with  a  heavy  rainfall,  is  practically  unknown  in  Utah  when  irriga- 
tion is  carefully  conducted.  The  water  we  turn  on  the  land  in  the  summer, 
our  period  of  almost  uninterrupted  dryness,  soaks  almost  entirely  int ■  >  the 
earth,  dissolving  and  carrying  with  it  the  food  materials  of  the  soil,  to  be 
brought  up  later  by  the  capillary  action  of  the  plant  roots.  Surface  drainage, 
the  ancient  and  powerful   enemy   of   fertility   is   seldom   needed   in   Utah. 

<  if  late  years,  under  the  direction  of  the  experiment  station  of  our 
Agricultural  College,  greater  attention  is  being  given  to  the  use  of  fertilizers 
and*  the  preservation  of  the  strength  of  the  soil.  For  we  realize  that  the 
youth  of  our  State,  like  the  youth  of  a  man,  can  not  last  forever;  and  that 
it  is  better  to  preserve  the  strength  of  youth  than  bolster  up  the  weakness 
of  age.  We  shall  therefore  add  the  advantages  which  have  come  from 
scientific  research  in  this  direction  to  the  advantages  native  to  our  State. 
The  result,  1  am  convinced,  will  be  a  lasting  fertility  unexcelled  by  that 
of  any  other  region.  We  are  finding  that  one  of  the  best  means  of  fertilizing 
the  soil  is  by  what  is  technically  called  "green-manuring."  Alfalfa  and 
other  forage  plants  are  used  to  excellent  advantage  in  this  system;  and 
it  is  found  that  the  tops  of  sugar  beets,  plowed  under  at  the  right  time  and 
to   tin-    right   depth,    form   a   valuable    fertilizer. 

Mineral  conservation  has  been  crowding  on  our  attention  for  some  time, 
The  need  of  ii  is  seen  in  the  case  of  coal,  more  than  any  other  mineral,  for 
reasons  which  I  do  not  need  to  name.  I  have  already  touched  upon  the 
phase  of  this  subject  relating  to  water  power  and  its  transformation  into 
electrical  energy.  This  is  a  very  practical  way  of  preserving  our  coal  de- 
iM.sits.  With  the  establishment  of  power  plants  on  the  mountain  streams, 
we  <an  not  only  run  pumps,  but  we  can  electrify  long  lines  of  railroads  now 
operated  with  steam,  and  run  our  mining  machinery,  smelters,  mills,  factories, 
and  after  a  while  our  farm  machinery,  by  electricity.  It  is  becoming  common, 
especially  in  the  summer  time,  for  many  household  labors  formerly  requiring 
coal  in  large  quantities,  to  be  done  by  means  of  electricity.  Cooking,  washing, 
i inning,  and  heating  are  among  these.  Indeed,  where  water  power  is  so 
cheap  and  of  so  easy  access,  it  is  not  surprising  that  in  Utah  the  age  of 
electricity  is  rapidly  supplanting  the  age  of  coal. 

The  other  minerals  we  are  nut  endeavoring  to  conserve  to  any  great 
extent.  In  fact,  we  seem  only  too  anxious  to  dig  them  out  of  the  ground  as 
rapidly  as  possible,  in  order  to  pay  good  dividends  on  our  mining  stocks. 
However,  the  recent  influx  of  a  large  foreign  population,  who  seek  employ- 
ment largely  in  mines  and  smelters,  has  given  rise  to  the  question  whether 
it  is  better  to  exhaust  our  mines  so  rapidly,  and  allow  these  people  to  send 
the  money  the  mines  produce  to  their  old  homes  in  Europe,  or  to  employ 
Americans  exclusively,  even  though  the  mineral  is  not  extracted  quite  so 
rapidly.  I  think  this  might  be  a  good  subject  for  our  deliberations  here  and 
elsewhere.  Ii  has  already  become  of  great  interest  in  Utah;  and  one  of 
Mm-  mining  camps  is  being  committed  by  its  newspaper  to  the  policy  of 
employing  native  labor  whenever  possible,  and  placing  foreigners  on  the  pay- 
rolls   only     when     Americans    are    not     available. 

While  1  do  nut  wish  to  inject  politics  into  this  discussion,  yet  I  think 
it  opportune  in  say  in  connection  with  this  subject  that  if  the  result  of 
the  National  election  <>f  1S96  had  been  different,  the  carrying  oui  of  the  free 
silver  policy  would  have  had  a  most  disastrous  effect  on  the  mineral  resources 
of   rtah.     As  silver   would   have   been   doubled   in    price,   by   being  admitted  to 

Unlimited  coinage  With  gold  at  a  ratio  of  sixteen  to  one,  tens  of  thousands 
of  people  would  have  Hocked  into  our  State  to  hunt  for  silver  mines.  The 
mines  already  discovered  would  doubtless  have  been  worked  with  little 
consideration  of  expense,  and  with  no  thoughl  of  the  economy  and  conserva- 
tion in  mining  and  smelting  which  has  i n  necessary  under  present  con- 
ditions. If  the  boom  thus  started  had  not  burst  in  a  short  time,  our  mines. 
that  should  last  for  centuries  under  the  present  system  of  economy  and 
conservation,   would   have   been    gutted   at    a    ruinous   rate. 

Then  when  tin-  boom  ,ii,i  burst,  it  would  have  bit  us  with  prices  of  real 
estate  ami  everything  else  inilated  beyond  all  reason,  with  tens  of  thousands 
of  limn  out  of  employment.  I  think  I  am.  Safe  in  saying  that  it  would  have 
taken  our  Stale  half  a  century  to  rcc..\er  from  these  effects,  even  with 
respect  to  our  ordinary  business  prosperity;  while  the  mines  would  have 
been  forever  exhausted  and  all  coming  generations  impoverished.  In  short, 
it  would  have  meant  the  most  serious  possible  drain  on  our  resources,  to  no 
good    effect    except    the    enriching    of    a    few. 

Ladies  and  gentlemen,  I  have  scarcely  skimmed  the  surface  of  this  great 
and  vital  subject.     I  cordially  invite  you  to  come  to  Utah  and  see  these  tilings 


TRANS-MISSISSIPPI    COMMERCIAL    CONGRESS  85 

for  yourselves.     I  want  you  to  see  our  splendid  resources;  our  great  reclama 
ion    projects,    our    practical    conservation    plans;    our    great    beet    suelr fac 
tones   that   will    increase    in    number   and   supply   America   with    suear Mf   onv 
™aa,l0r;,0-U1\na^ral  and  ac<iuired  attractions"  our  ma|nificent  sfenery-   our 
loyal    and    industrious    people;    our    excellent    institutions.       If    possible     vou 
]Vl?f  Paf^   throufh   Utah   on   your  way   home   should   seize  thf  opportunity  to 
visit  with  us      It  will  be  well  worth  your  while.     And  although  you  may  hav 
gained  some  idea  of  conservation  as  it  is  being  carried  on   in  Utah    from  mv 
remarks  today,  I  invite  you  to  a  closer  inspection  of  it,  and  incidentally  to  the 
enjoyment     of    Utah's    proverbial    hospitality.       I    thank    you    for    your    kind 
attention.      (Applause.)  ^  KIHI 

Vice-President   Pryor: 

i  made  very  few  remarks  in  introducing  Governor  Cutler.  I  knew  ana 
felt  that  his  address  would  speak  for  itself  and  for  him,  and  anything  that 
I  might  say  complimentary  to  him  would  be  superfluous.  We  will  now 
listen  to  an  address  by  former  Governor,  Geo.  C.  Pardee,  of  California,  upon 
the  same  subject  as  that  dealt  with  by  Governor  Cutler.     (Applause.) 

THE  NATIONAL  CONSERVATION  COMMISSION. 
By  Hon.  George   C.  Pardee,  of  California. 
By  Dr.  Pardee,  of  Oakland: 

Ladies  and  Gentlemen:  Congratulating  you  upon  this  auspicious  gathering 
of  the  Trans-Mississippi  Commercial  Congress,  I  tender  you,  at  the  request  of 
its  chairman,  Mr.  Gifford  Pinchot,  the  hearty  good  wishes  of  the  National 
Conservation  Commission  lately  appointed  by  President  Roosevelt.  I  feel  sure 
that  you  will  agree  with  me  that  the  work  of  that  commission  will  supple- 
ment your  efforts  toward  aiding  the  trade  and  commerce  of  the  Nation,  and 
I   bespeak    for    the    commission    your    countenance    and    support. 

Every  delegate  to  this  Congress,  every  thinking,  patriotic  American 
citizen  realizes,  I  think,  that  the  future,  the  immediate  future,  prosperity  of 
this  country  depends  upon  the  conservation  of  our  natural  resources.  In  fact, 
it  is  well  within  the  truth  to  say  that  the  very  perpetuity  of  the  American 
Republic  as  a  free,  independent  and  influential  world-power  very  much  de- 
pends upon  the  preservation  for  our  children  and  our  children's  "children  of 
the  great  natural  resources  of  mountains,  forests,  streams  and  fields  which 
have  given  us  the  wealth  that  has  made  our  country  what  it  is.  Our  people 
have  been  liberal,  prodigal,  with  their  lands,  their  trees,  their  streams,  their 
mines,  and  have  given  freely  of  them  to  those  who  had  use  for  them.  But  the 
time  has  come,  has  even  passed,  when  we  can  afford  longer  to  permit  to  be 
destroyed  and  exhausted  the  vast  resources  upon  which  our  national  wealth 
and  prosperity  have  been  built. 

Trade  and  commerce,  with  which  this  Congress  is  especially  concerned, 
depend  primarily  upon  a  wealthy  and  prosperous  people,  who  shall  be  more 
than  a  peasantry  able  merely  to  live.  Our  people  call  for  and  must  have  the 
luxuries  which  in  other  and  less  favored  lands  are  within  the  reach  of  only 
the  rich.  We  can  not,  must  not,  have  our  people  divided  into  classes  such  as 
the  economic  systems  of  other  countries  make  inevitable.  We  have  been,  still 
are,  the  wealthiest  nation  in  the  world,  measured  by  our  natural  resources, 
the  foundation  of  all  real  wealth.  Our  acres,  although  badly  handled,  are  the 
most  fertile;  the  remnants  of  our  forests,  axe-scarred  and  fire-blackened 
though  they  be,  are  the  best  in  all  the  world;  our  streams,  though  stripped  of 
much  of  their  protecting  forests,  and  allowed  to  become  choked  with  the  debris 
from  the  naked  and  scarred  mountains,  hold  out  to  us  a  vision  of  unthinkable 
wealth  in  cheap  transportation,  irrigation  and  power;  our  mines,  though 
stripped  by  hasty  and  uneconomical  hands,  still  yield  a  wealth  such  as  no 
other  nation  has.  In  the  past,  our  people,  whose  property  all  these  things 
were,  have  freely  given  them  away  to  all  who  wanted  to  acquire  them,  and 
have  not  been  too  curious  to  know  whether  they  were  to  be  used  for  the 
common  good  or  merely  to  be  exploited  for  the  oppression  of  the  people,  and 
the  piling  up  of  vast  private  fortunes. 

No  one,  I  take  it,  ever  has  objected,  or  ever  will  object,  to  the  exploiting 
of  our  natural  resources  to  the  end  that  those  exploiting  them  may  become 
reasonably  wealthy.  But  what  thinking  man  can  contemplate  undisturbed 
the  ruthless  haste  and  terrible  waste  with  which,  with  firebrand  and  axe,  the 
forests  of  the  country  have  been  and  are  being  destroyed  in  order  that  pri- 
vate fortunes  may  grow  with  leaps  and  bounds?  Great  and  inexhaustible  as 
our  forests  formerly  appeared  to  be,  it  is  estimated  by  those  who  are  expert 
in  such  matters  that,  at  their  present  rate  of  destruction,  they  will  be  practi- 
cally exhausted  in  less  than  fifty  years.  Even  the  veriest  tyro  knows  that 
this  means  ruin  for  valleys  and  plains;  that  it  means  raging  river  floods, 
with    their    destruction    of   life    and    property;    that    it   means    land-destruction 


86  REPORT    OF    PROCEEDINGS 

and  aridity  for  farms;  that  it  carries  with  it  Buch  want  and  famine  as  have, 
for  the  same  reason,  fastened  themselves  upon  parts  of  Spain,  Palestine  and 
China,  where  great  forests  have  been  dstroyed,  and  the  Hood-demon  and 
aridity  have  alternately  been  given  control  of  wli.it  were  once  fertile,  fat 
and  smiling  acres.  Personal  liberty  is  a  thing  to  be  fought  for  and,  if  neces- 
sary, to  die  for;  private  property  should  be  respected.  But  no  man  should 
have  the  liberty  so  to  use  his  private  property  that  the  use  thereof  shall 
bring  trouble,  distress  and  destruction  upon  his  fellow  citizens,  or  the  children 
of  his  fellow  citizens.  You,  as  members  of  the  Trans-Mississippi  Commercial 
Congress,  representing  the  states  and  territories  where  the  greatest  forests 
of  the  world  still  remain,  where  millions  of  the  country's  future  Inhabitants 
will  look  for  and  find  homes  upon  the  land — you,  of  all  American  citizens. 
are  interested  in  seeing  the  forests  conserved.  Tney  are  part  of  the  Nation's 
capital.  Only  the  interest  on  that  capital  should  be  used;  its  principal  should 
be  preserved  intact,  so  that  future  generations  of  American  citizens,  even 
unto  the  end  of  time,  may  be  able  to  enjoy  the  blessings  and  benefits  which 
now   How  to  us  because  of  the  forests. 

President  Roosevelt,  among  the  many  good  things  he  has  done  for  the 
people  of  the  Trans-Mississippi  States  ami  Territories,  never' did  anything  of 
more  importance  for  those  people  than  when  he  took  the  principal  part  in 
setting  aside  as  national  forests  one  hundred  and  fifty  millions  of  acres  of 
forested  lands  along  the  headwaters  of  the  Trans-Mississippi  streams. 
Although  this  great  area  is  one-third  larger  than  that  of  California,  the 
second  largest  State  in  the  Union,  it  is  too  bad  that  the  President  was  not 
permitted  to  enlarge  the  national  forests  so  that  every  foot  of  public  forest 
land  of  the  Nation  could  he  preserved  and  conserved  for  the  use  of  the  whole 
people  and  their  children's  children,  whose  property  they  are.  But  Congress, 
in  its  unwisdom,  saw  fit  to  take  away  from  the  President  and  reserve 
to  itself  in  six  of  the  Western  States,  not.  however.  Including  California,  the 
right  to  set  apart  national  forests  out  of  the  public  domain.  You  know,  every- 
body knows,  that  this  means  that  there  will  be  few,  if  any,  more  national 
forests  created  in  these  six  Western  States,  and  that  private  interests  will 
continue  to  monopolize  and  destroy  our  trees,  those  most  necessary  and  effi- 
cient protectors  of  the  streams,  the  rivers,  and  the  harbors.  An  illustration 
of  the  manner  in  which  forests  will  be  handled  by  Congress  is  furnished  by 
its  treatment  of  the  Appalachian  forests,  which  are  being  destroyed  at  such 
a  rapid  rate  that,  according  to  the  dictum  of  those  who  profess  to  know,  they 
will  entirely  disappear  within  a  few  years.  The  destruction  of  these  forests 
will  have,  already  has  had,  a  most  disastrous  effect  upon  the  rivers  dependent 
upon  them  for  protection  against  winter  and  spring  floods  and  summer  and 
autumn  droughts.  This  condition  of  affairs  was  called  to  the  attention  of 
Congress  at  its  last  session,  and  it  was  requested  to  make  of  the  Appalachian 
forests  a  national  forest.  Congress,  however,  did  nothing  in  the  matter.  In 
the  meantime,  the  forests  are  being  destroyed,  and  almost  irreparable  damage 
is  being  done  to  the  rivers,  the  harbors,  the  trade,  the  commerce,  the  farms, 
and  the  people  which  and  who  are  dependent  upon  the  protection  afforded  by 
the  Appalachian  forests.  Congress  is  in  session  only  part  of  the  time,  and 
the  attention  of  its  members  is  taken  up  by  matters  which  seem  to  be  of 
more  personal  importance  to  them  than  the  preservation  and  conservation  Of 
the  forests.  The  President  is  in  session  three  hundred  and  sixty-five  days  in 
every  year,  lias  a  personally-official  interest  in  forest  protection,  and  is  sur- 
rounded by  experts  in  such  matters.  It  was.  therefore,  a  mistake,  or  worse, 
for  Congress  to  take  away  from  the  President  and  arrogate  to  itself  the  right 
to  set  apart  national  forests  in  any  of  the  states  for  the  benefit  of  this  and 
future  generations  of  American   citizens.     The   result    will   be  disastrous. 

The  Trans-Mississippi  States  and  Territories,  which  you  are  assembled 
here  to  represent,  are  crying  out  for  better,  cheaper,  quicker,  more  means  of 
transportation  for  their  products  and  manufactures.  Our  railroads  have  dem- 
onstrated, within  the  two  years  hist  passed,  their  Inability  to  handle  our  trade 
and  commerce.     Mr,  .1.  J.    Hill   informs   us  that   it    will   require  the   unthinkable 

sum    of    five    thousand    millions    of    dollars    ($5,000,1 ,000)    so    to    improve    the 

railroads    that    they    will    be    able    to    handle    efficiently    our    present    business. 

Where  is  this  money  to  c i  from?     And.  when  gotten,   how   long  will   it   take 

to  put  the  railroads  Into  condition  to  take  rare  of  the  business  we  offer  them? 
And  who  is  to  pay  the  interest  upon  this  great  sum  of  money  and  the  divi- 
dends  on   the   stock    that    its   expenditure    will    call    into    being'.'      The    business   of 

the  country  la  growing  with  leaps  and  bounds.  When  these  five  billions  of 
dollars  shall  have  been  gotten  and  expended,  will  the  railroads  be  aide  properly 

to  handle   the   business   which    we    >v  i  1 1    then    lie   offering   them'.'      In    the    meantime 

the  rivers  of  the  countrj  are  clamoring  to  be  used  for  transportation  pur- 
poses; and  those  expert  in  such  matters  assure  us  that  five  hundred  millions 
of  dollars  <$!iUO,ono,000),  one-tenth  of  the  sum  necessary  to  put  the  railroads 
into  condition  to  take  care  of  our  present  business,  will  put  the  rivers  Into 
condition  to  handle  not  only  the  present  but  the  future  trade  and  commerce 
tributary    to    them.      This    Trans-Mississippi    Commercial    Congress    can    do    no 


TRANS-MISSISSIPPI    COMMERCIAL    CONGRESS  87 

better  work  than  to  induce  the  Congress  of  the  United  States  to  improve  the 
waterways  of  the  country,  to  the  end  that  our  people  may  have  a  more  certain 
a  cheaper  a  more  efficient  means  of  transportation  that  the  railroads  can  now 
or  in  the  future  offer  us.  It  costs  half  a  cent  to  transport  a  ton  of  freight  a 
mile  by  railroad.  It  costs  about  one  mill,  one-fifth  as  much,  to  transport  the 
same  ton  the  same  distance  on  a  deep  river.  The  trade  and  commerce  and 
the  prosperity  of  the  people  of  the  Trans-Mississippi  States  and  Territories 
can  not  be  better  served  and  assured  than  by  improving  the  waterways  of  the 
country.  Congress  wisely  spends  many  millions  of  the  people's  money  in 
improving  our  harbors.  These,  however,  do  not  compete  with  the  railroads 
nor  do  they,  except  indirectly,  lessen  the  burdens  of  those  whose  needs  would 
be  better  satisfied  by  open  and  easily  navigable  rivers  of  sufficient  depth  The 
harbors  begin  in  the  mountains,  and  the  rivers  are  part  of  them.  Let  our 
National  Congress  save  the  forests  and  improve  the  rivers,  and  the  improve- 
ment of  our  harbors  will  be  much  easier,  much  quicker  and  much  more  cheaply 
accomplished. 

Mr.  Andrew  Carnegie  informs  us  that  the  end  of  our  at  present  available 
supplies  of  coal  and  iron  is  in  sight.  He  also  informs  us  that,  because  of  the 
hasty,  greedy  and  uneconomical  methods  we  have  employed  in  mining  our  coal, 
two  tons  of  that  at  present  necessary  fuel  are  destroyed  and  wasted  for  every 
ton  that  is  put  into  our  stoves  and  furnaces.  We  all  know  that,  trading  in 
coal  and  iron,  both  originally  the  property  of  the  people,  reckless  wastes  have 
been  the  custom,  and  that  enormous  private  fortunes  have  been  and  are  being 
accumulated  by  those  exploiting  them,  while  the  people,  the  real  owners  of 
them,  have  been  compelled  to  pay  excessively  high  prices  for  the  use  of  these 
necessities.  Is  there  any  reason  under  heaven  why  the  people  of  the  country 
should  longer  permit  their  iron  and  coal  properties  to  be  monopolized,  wasted 
and  used  to  add  to  their  own  financial  burdens?  This  Trans-Mississippi  Com- 
mercial Congress  is  interested,  from  the  commercial  standpoint,  in  seeing  that 
the  coal  and  iron  of  the  country  shall  be  preserved,  conserved  and  economically 
used,  to  the  end  that  these  natural  products  shall  be  put  to  better  and  cheaper 
public  use,  rather  than  monopolized  for  the  piling  up,  at  the  expense  of  the 
public,  of  enormous  private  fortunes. 

In  many  parts  of  this  country  there  are  vast  deposits  of  petroleum,  which, 
until  appropriated  for  private  use,  are  the  property  of  the  public.  This 
natural  product  supplements  the  rapidly  disappearing  coal  supply  for  fuel 
purposes.  This  enormously  valuable  national  and  public  asset  the  people  of 
the  country  have  allowed,  as  they  have  the  coal  and  iron,  to  be  used  to  the 
detriment  of  the  public  and  for  the  purpose  of  accumulating  enormous  and 
threatening  private  fortunes.  This  Trans-Mississippi  Commercial  Congress, 
for  the  benefit  of  the  millions  of  people  whom  it  represents,  and  the  many 
more  millions  who  wTill  come  after  us,  would  do  well  to  use  its  great  influence 
to  hold  up  the  hands  of  the  President  in  his  endeavors  to  conserve  these 
underground  resources  of  the  country  for  the  benefit  of  present  and  future 
American  citizens. 

Every  mountain  stream  that  dashes  down  the  mountain  side  furnishes  a 
power  that  can  move  machinery  and  furnish  light  and  heat  far  from  the  source 
from  which  it  is  developed.  A  conservative  estimate  is  that  over  five  million 
(5,000,000)  such  horsepower  can  be  furnished  by  the  streams  of  my  state  of 
California  alone.  The  Trans-Mississippi  States  and  Territories  abound  in  such 
streams.  They  are,  or  were,  the  property  of  the  people.  But,  as  all  our  other 
natural  resources  have  been,  these  enormously  valuable  and  necessary  proper- 
ties have  been  and  are  being  monopolized  by  private  interests  for  private  gain. 
After  the  coal  and  petroleum  have  been  exhausted,  these  streams  will  continue 
to  furnish  light,  heat  and  power  until  the  end  of  time.  In  their  protection, 
preservation  and  conservation,  this  Trans-Mississippi  Commercial  Congress  is 
greatly  interested.  We  should  not  sit  idly  by  while  this  enormously  valuable 
public  asset  is  being  grabbed  and  made  the  object  of  private  monopoly  and 
future  as  well  as  present,  public  oppression.  The  streams  should  be  used  for 
the  benefit  of  their  owners,  the  people.  And  this  Congress  would  do  well  to 
lend  the  President  the  weight  of  its  great  influence  to  the  end  that  the  use 
of  the  streams  shall  be  regulated  by  the  Federal  Government  and  kept  for 
the  benefit  of  present  and  future  American  citizens.  These  public  properties 
should  be  leased  for  definite  and  comparatively  short  periods  to  those  who 
wish  to  use  them  and  their  users  should  pay  their  owners,  the  whole  people, 
for  the  privilege  of  using  them,  just  as  stockholders  in  private  corporations 
pay  for  the  use  to  which  they  put  the  property  of  the  corporations  in  which, 
because  they  are  stockholders,   they  have  ownership. 

Our  easilv-acquired  public  lands  are  nearly  all  gone  into  private  owner- 
shiD  Our  people  have  been  prodigal  in' bestowing  them  upon  thus,,  who  asked 
for  them  Fraud  has  been  committed  by  wholesale  in  their  acquirement,  and 
todav  all' that  remains  of  the  public  domain  lies  in  the  arid  and  semi-arid  por- 
tions of  the  Trans-Mississippi  country.  Our  land  laws  should  be  amended  so 
that  a  continuance  of  the  frauds,  which  have  sent  too  few  people  to  jail,  shall 
become  ?oo  dangerous  to  be  practised.     The  work   of  the  Reclamation   Service 


88  REPORT    OF    PROCEEDINGS 

in  putting  water  upon  the  arid  and  semi-arid  lands  of  the  Trans-Mississippi 
States  and  Territories  should  be  continued  until  every  irrigable  acre  shall 
have  been  Joined  to  1 1 1 « -  Irrigation  ditch.  The  time  has  come  when  the  future 
of  the  country,  it'  nol  its  present,  demands  that  the  cityward  trend  of  our 
young  people  shall  be  stopped  and  that  they  shall  be  induced  to  live  upon  the 
land  and  raise  crops  of  farm  produce  and  children  for  their  own  profit  and 
glory  and  the  support  of  the  American  Nation  and  the  American  flag-  Every 
irrigating  dam  means  more  schoolhouses.  Every  schoolhouse  is  a  signboard 
fur  more  trade  and  commerce.  It  means  more  and  better  American  citizens. 
This  country  needs  more  farms  and  more  farmers.  And  this  Trans-Mississippi 
Commercial  Congress  is  interested,  deeply  interested,  in  seeing'  them  provided. 
Trade  and  commerce  require  people  to  produce  and  people  to  consume.  The 
Trans-Mississippi  States  and  Territories  can  furnish  the  land  and  the  water 
to  make  farms  for  many  millions  of  American  farmers.  Let  the  good  work 
inaugurated  by  President  Roosevelt  and  now  being  pushed  onward  by  his 
National   Conservation   Commission   go   speedily   on. 

Ladies  and  gentlemen,  have  any  of  you  a  doubt  as  to  the  common  aims 
and  desires  of  the  Trans-Mississippi  Commercial  Congress  and  the  National 
Conservation  Commission  appointed  by  the  President?  Your  Congress  and  the 
President's  Commission  wish  to  see  the  waters,  the  forests,  the  lands  and  the 
minerals  of  this  Nation  preserved,  conserved  and  made  to  do  their  full  duty 
toward  the  upbuilding  of  the  country  now  and  its  prosperity  in  the  future. 
Again  1  bespeak  your  support,  aid  and  countenance  for  the  National  Conserva- 
tion Commission,  and  thank  you,  in  its  name,  for  the  good  work  you  have 
done  toward  making  easier  the  work  the  commission  has  to  do. 

President  J.  B.  Case  then  resumed  the  chair. 

By   President  Case: 

Gentlemen  of  the  Trans-Mississippi  Commercial  Congress:  I  take 
pleasure  now  in  introducing  to  you  a  gentleman  who  has  taken  a  great  and 
a  deep  interest  in  the  work  of  the  Trans-Mississippi  Commercial  Congress, 
who  is  present  upon  all  occasions — I  do  not  know  when  he  has  missed  a 
session  of  the  Congress.  He  is  familiar  with  the  workings  of  this  Congress. 
He  lives  in  the  Central  West,  upon  the  high  mountains,  in  Denver.  I  now 
introduce  to  you  Mr.  Jas.  F.  Callbreath,  Jr.,  of  Denver,  Colorado.    (Applause.) 

MINING   AND   THE   CONSERVATION    OF   MINERALS. 

Hy  ->lr.  James  F.  Callbreath,  Jr.,   Secretary  American   Milling   Congress: 

Mr.  Chairman  and  Ladies  and  Gentlemen:  With  your  permission,  Mr. 
Chairman,  I  shall  change  the  subject  of  my  discussion,  which  was  announced 
as  "The  Conservation  of  the  Mineral  Resources  of  the  Trans-Mississippi 
Region."  I  desire  to  change  this  to  ".Mining  and  the  Conservation  of  .Min- 
erals." You  will  see  that  the  new  title  is  much  more  comprehensive,  and  by 
the  time  I  have  finished  speaking,  I  feel  satisfied  that  you  will  be  convinced 
that  it  is  a  much  more  appropriate  title.  This  title  is  very  much  like  the 
Mother    Hubbard    gown,    which    has   been    said    to   cover    everything   and    touch 

no1  hing. 

During  the  month  of  May,  1908,  there  met  In  Washington,  one  of  the  most 
Important  as  well  as  the  most  unique  conferences  ever  held  in  the  United 
States.  This  met  ting  was  called  at  the  suggestion  of  the  Inland  Waterways 
Commission,    by    President    Theodore   Roosevelt. 

In  his  opening  address  before  this  conference,  the  President  called 
attention  to  a  similar  movement  In  the  Colonial  days.  "Washington,"  said 
president  Koosevelt,  "clearly  saw  that  the  perpetuity  of  the  states  could 
only  be  secured  by  union,  and  that  the  only  feasible  basis  of  union  was 
an  economic  one;  in  other  words,  that  it  must  be  based  on  the  development 
and  use  of  their  natural  resources.  Accordingly,  he  helped  to  outline  a 
scheme  of  commercial  development,  and  by  his  intluence  an  interstate  water- 
ways commission  was  appointed  by  Virginia  and  Maryland.  It  "met  in 
Alexandria,  adjourned  to  Mount  Vernon,  and  took  up  the  consideration  of 
Interstate  commerce,  !>y  the  only  means  then  available,  thai  of  water. 

"Further  conferences  were  arranged,  first  at  Annapolis  and  then  at  Phila- 
delphia, it  was  at  Philadelphia  that  the  representatives  of  all  the  states  met 
for  what  was  in  its  original  conception,  merely  a  waterways  conference; 
but  when  thej  had  closed  their  deliberations  the  outcome  was  the  constitu- 
tion which  made  the  states  into  a  nation." 

The  Trans-Mississippi  Commercial  'Congress  was  first  a  waterways  conven- 
tion. It,  too,  lias  met  in  various  places  and  given  consideration  to  important 
public  questions,  and  while  we  do  not  expect  it  to  become  a  maker  of  national 
<..nst  it  in  ions,  we  do  believe  thai  through  the  movements  which  have  been 
and   which   will   be   initiated  as   a   result  of   these  deliberations,   untold   benefits 


JAMES    F\    CALLBREATH,    Jr.,    Denver,    Colo. 
Secretary    American    Mining-    Congress. 


'    THE 

MIVER-Sm 

OF 
FORN^ 


TRANS-MISSISSIPPI    COMMERCIAL    CONGRESS  89 

will  be  worked  out  for  this  great  western  empire  destined  some  day  to  become 
an  important  if  not  a  controlling-  factor  in  the  affairs   of  the  world 

To  this  more  recent  conference  were  invited  the  Governors  of  the  several 
states,  the  Judges  of  the  Supreme  Court,  the  members  of  the  President's 
Cabinet,  of  the  Senate  and  the  House  of  Representatives,  and  representatives 
of   various    commercial    and    industrial    organizations. 

Each  Governor  was  authorized  to  invite  two  others  to  accompany  him 
presumably,  as  was  stated  by  the  Governor  of  West  Virginia  to  Insure  that 
someone  should  be  present  from  each  of  the  several  states  who  knew 
something  of  its  industrial  conditions.  The  complete  success  of  this  plan 
has  been  questioned,  although  no  one  has  yet  expressed  doubt  of  the  clever- 
ness of  this  scheme  to  prevent  the  exposure  of  gubernatorial  incompetence. 
As  far  as  California  is  concerned,  I  am  glad  to  say  that  the  plan  was  entirely 
successful,  which  took  to  that  conference,  as  your  representative,  your  dis- 
tinguished ex-Governor,  George  C.  Pardee.  At  this  conference  'the  con- 
servation of  coal,  of  gas,  of  oil,  of  waterpower,  of  lands  from  erosion  of 
the  forest,  and  many  other  things  were  discussed,  and  a  National  Conservation 
Commission  was  appointed,  charged  with  the  duty  of  investigating  the  waste 
of  natural  resources  and  the  recommendation  of  methods  for  its  prevention; 
but  scarcely  more  than  incidental  reference  was  made  to  the  waste  of  the 
precious  metals.  This  same  neglect  is,  and  always  has  been,  noticeable  in 
our  National  Congress.  The  United  States  is  the  greatest  and  the  most 
progressive  country  on  the  face  of  the  globe  in  every  other  respect,  but  it 
has  not  been  progressive  enough  to  do  what  practically  every  other  producing 
mineral  country  is  doing  for  its  miners.  Is  this  an  unfair  statement?  Let  us  see. 

The  only  place  where  the  word  "Mining"  can  be  found  in  the  Nation's 
Capitol  is  upon  the  doors  of  the  rooms  of  the  Committees  on  Mines  and  Mining 
of  the  Senate  and  the  House  of  Representatives.  In  days  gone  by,  to  be 
appointed  a  member  of  either  of  these  Committees  has  been  more  of  a  joke 
than  an  honor.  If  this  is  not  true  now,  it  is  because  of  the  active  work  by 
the  present  Congress  and  its  Committees  on  Mines  and  Mining.  But,  is  it  not 
strange,  gentlemen,  that  notwithstanding  the  great  part  filled  by  the  mining 
industry  in  the  progress  of  our  country,  not  one  bureau  of  any  kind  has  ever 
been  created  by  our  National  Government,  entirely  devoted  to  mining? 

Is  it  not  strange  that  no  Federal  aid  has  been  given  to  an  industry  which 
employs  nearly  1,000,000  men;  which  adds  nearly  $2,000,000,000  annually 
to  our  permanent  wealth,  and  which  furnishes  the  material  without  which  all 
modern  forms  of  agriculture,  manufacturing  and  commerce  would  be 
impossible? 

But,  you  say,  that  an  industry  which  can  accomplish  so  much  by  itself 
does  not  need  help.  As  well  say,  that  because  some  men  have  been  successful, 
without   a  college   education,    that   we   should   abolish   our  colleges. 

An  industry  of  such  importance  is  entitled  to  recognition,  and  if  you  find 
its  most  important  production  unequal  to  the  growing  demands  upon  it,  there 
arises  a  still  more  important  reason  for  lending  co-operation. 

The  importance  of  preventing  waste  and  bringing  about  an  increase  in 
the  production  of  the  money  metal  seems  to  be  lost  sight  of  in  the  many 
discussions  of  the  question   of  the  conservation  of  natural   resources. 

Theoretically,  there  are  many  substitutes  for  gold;  practically,  there 
are  none.  The  advocates  of  greenbackism  have  faded  away  in  blushing 
silence;  and  even  Mr.  Bryan  has  ceased  to  advocate  the  free  coinage  of  silver 
at  sixteen  to  one,  or  at  any  other  ratio. 

The  increased  production  of  gold  which  was  supposed  to  have  solved  the 
free  coinage  issue  furnished  but  a  temporary  solution.  Do  you  want  proofs? 
In  the  fall  of  1907,  at  a  time  of  great  industrial  prosperity,  when  the  produc- 
tion of  the  mines  and  the  factories  were  the  greatest;  when  every  man  desiring 
work  was  employed  at  the  highest  wages  known  to  history;  when  the  pro- 
duction of  the  farms  was  enormous;  with  the  balance  of  foreign  trade 
largely  in  our  favor;  with  no  war  or  pestilence  to  blight;  with  the  amount 
of  money  per  capita  larger  than  ever  before  in  our  history;  when  that  great 
empire  builder,  James  J.  Hill,  was  explaining  the  enormous  cist  of  the 
additional  railway  facilities  necessary  to  handle  the  increased  business  of 
the  country;  suddenly  a  startling  financial  nightmare  spread  over  the  country. 
Many  of  its  factories  and  mines  ceased  operations,  its  railroad  switches  were 
filled  with  idle  freight  cars,  the  paying  tellers'  windows  of  our  I. auks  were 
closed,  and  the  conservative,  honorable  businessmen  of  the  country,  with 
practical  unanimity,  approved  the  action  of  the  hanks  In  repudiating 
their  obligations;  a  course  absolutely  illegal  and  almost  revolutionary  Does 
not  a  condition  which  leads  honorable  business  men  to  justily  repudiation 
call  for  a  solution  ?  Can  that  situation  be  met  by  intensifying  the  conditions 
which   produced    it  ?     What   were   those   conditions  ? 

A  period  of  abnormally  high  and  continually  increasing  prices,  stimulated 
by  an  increasing  credit,  which  recognized  no  limit,  an  effort  to  maintain  thr 
price   of  copper  at  double   the  cost   of  production  and   much    m   advance  of   its 


90  REPORT    OF    PROCEEDINGS 

competitive  value  for  Industrial  purposes,  called  ihe  attention  of  the  financial 
world  to  tlie  fact  thai  the  structure  of  credit  had  grown  top  heavy;  that  the 
banks  of  New  York  City  owed  to  their  depositors  more  money  than  the  whole 
country  possessed,  real  money  and  credit  money  combined.  Confidence 
changed  to  distrust,  and  those  who  could  get  possession  of  their  money 
hoarded  it.  The  banks  made  some  of  us  believe  they  were  hoarding-  the 
balances,  which  we  could  nol  get.  'Tis  true  that  the  per  capita  circulation 
had  been  constantly  growing  but  the  increase  had  not  been  in  proportion  to 
the  growing  magnitude  of   business   transactions  and  wealth. 

The  industrial  nerds  of  the  country  require  an  Increase  in  the  circulating 
medium,  not  in  proportion  to  population  but  in  proportion  to  the  volume 
of  business;  and  the  value  of  the  property  which  it  must  represent.  There 
must  be  a  proper  ratio  between  the  volume  of  basic  money  and  the  volume  of 
credit  money  which  it  sustains.  To  deny  this  is  to  justify  greenbackism. 
What  is  that  proper  ratio?  The  panic  of  1907  indicates,  if  it  does  not  prove, 
that  the  limit  had  been  exceeded.  We  are  told  that  it  is  the  activity  of 
money  and  not  its  volume  which  meets  the  requirements  of  trade.  Within 
proper  limits  this  is  true;  but  that  man  will  he  difficult  to  find,  willing  to 
assert  that  the  money  of  fifty  years  ago  could  move  rapidly  enough  to  meet 
the    requirements    of    our   present    industrial    life. 

Bank  runs  are  caused  by  the  belief  that  the  bank  has  not  enough  money 
to  meet  the  impending  demands  of  its  depositors,  and,  therefore,  that  the  early 
comers  only   will  be  paid. 

Money  goes  into  hiding,  is  withdrawn  from  circulation,  ceases  to  move 
actively,  whenever  confidence  in  ultimate  redemption  is  destroyed.  During 
the  period  of  the  so-called  panic  of  '97  there  was  one  place  in  the  United  States 
where  there  was  no  panic.  Cripple  Creek,  Colorado,  took  its  monthly  produc- 
tion  of  one  and   one-half  millions  to  the  Mint  and  paid   its   bills  in   gold   coin. 

There  was  another  place  where  the  available  money  must  have  moved 
with  remarkable  celerity,  to  have  met  pending  obligations.  At  that  time 
the  banks  and  trust  companies  of  New  York  City  alone  were  obligated  to 
their  depositors   for  more  money  than   the  whole  country   possessed. 

Those  same  banks  had  loaned  to  their  customers  and  were  earning  interest 
upon  more  than  twice  as  much  money  as  the  country  possessed.  The  volume 
of  gold,  as  compared  with  the  current  commercial  transactions  and  the  total 
wealth    of   the  country,   was  less   than   ever  before   in   our  history. 

If  the  available  use  of  one  dollar  in  real  money  is  to  support  $10.00  in 
credit  money,  and  the  credit  shall  reach  a  ratio  of  15  to  1,  disaster  will  surely 
follow,  whenever  the  action  of  some  financial  acrobat  shall  reveal  this  condi- 
tion. What  solution  was  offered  for  these  conditions?  Instead  of  making  an 
effort  to  increase  the  size  of  the  foundation  which  had  proven  too  small  to 
support  the  credit  on  which  it  was  based,  our  legislators  went  scurrying 
to  and  fro  bringing  props  and  braces  to  bolster  up  the  top-heavy  structure 
while  the  banks  repudiated  their  obligations  in  order  to  prevent  entire 
destruction  of  that  foundation  before  the  props  could  be  put  in  place. 

It  was  admitted  by  all  that  the  Aldrich  currency  bill  was  but  a  make- 
shift, a  temporary  solution,  and  yet  it  was  the  all  absorbing  question  before 
our  National  Congress  while  the  bill  for  a  Federal  Bureau  of  Mines  was  looked 
upon  as  a  matter  of  small   importance. 

I  do  not  mean  to  criticise  Congress.  This  is  the  attitude  of  the  American 
people  and  the  Congress  was  fairly  representative  of  that  sentiment.  Bill 
White's  "What's  the  matter  with  Kansas,"  called  the  attention  to  ignored  and 
important  conditions.  It  was  good  for  Kansas  to  know  these  things  and  the 
author,  Mr.  William  Allen   White. 

The  American  .Mining  Congress  is  calling  attention  to  conditions  im- 
portant to  the  world  and  vital  to  the  Western  States.  We  ask  the  active 
support  of  every  interest  in  the  Trans-Mississippi  States  In  bringing  about 
such  legislation,  both  National  and  State,  as  will  induce  a  greater  production 
of  gold,  in  order  that  a  proper  foundation  may  be  created  upon  which  to 
base    (he   credit    necessary    to   our   industrial    life. 

Incidentally,  this  will  increase  the  production  of  other  minerals  and  thus 
add    to   the   material    wealth    and   prosperity    of   the   producing   states. 

What  is  our  Government  doing  for  the  mining  Industry?  For  many 
years  we  have  asked  for  a  Department  of  Mining,  with  no  result.  The  pos- 
sibility of  the  creation  of  such  a  department  became  more  forlorn  as  the  years 
went  by.  Last  year  we  asked  for  a  Bureau  of  Mining,  under  the  Department 
of  the  Interior;  not  what  we  Want  nor  that  to  which  we  believe  the  mining 
industry  is  entitled,  but  the  only  assistance  which  seemed  possible  to 
obtain   at   this   time. 

A  bill,  creating  the  Bureau  of  Mining,  was  passed  by  the  Mouse  of  Rep- 
resentatives, and  is  now  on  the  Senate  calendar  for  third  reading.  It  seems 
probable  that  this  bill  will  be  flnallj  enacted  in  the  early  days  of  the  coming 
session  of  Congress.  We  are  under  particular  obligation  to  Congressman 
Knglebright    of   California    for   his   active    efforts    in    behalf    of   this   legislation. 


TRANS-MISSISSIPPI    COMMERCIAL    CONGRESS  91 

We  are  grateful  to  Congress  for  its  support,  but  we  must  have  appropriations 
to  make  the  work  of  this  bureau  effective,  and  it  is  not    safe  to  be  too  thank- 

nmrtl!"  n  mSL  tUtreawVb8  ;,,!.-,,l;'n>-  established,  and  provided  with  sufficient 
tunas    to    make    its    work    effectivi'. 

tvt  +-Is  l\  ^°°  much  to„ex:Dect  that  some  co-operation  shall  he  extended  by  the 
National  Government?  We  do  not  ask  and  do  not  desire  such  assistance  as  is 
given  by  some  countries,  Canada,  for  instance,  pays  a  bounty  of  three-fourths 
of  a  cent  upon  each  pound  of  lead  mined  and  smelted  within  her  borders  with 
a  further  proviso  that  in  case  the  rates  charged  by  local  smelters  shall  be 
excessive,  that  the  ore  may  be  smelted  outside  the  province  and  still  receive 
the   bounty. 

The  Western  Australia  Mining  Development  Act  of  1902  provides  for- 

(a)  Government   loans   at   5   per   cent  to  aid    in   development    work. 

(b)  Government    loans    to   miners    to    aid    in   prospecting. 

(c)  The  erection  of  public  crushing,  ore-dressing,  cyaniding  and  smelting 
works  and  the  subsidizing  of  persons  or  companies  that  will  erect  such 
works    for    testing    or    treating    ores    for    the    public. 

(d)  The  conduct  of  exploratory  boring  operations  for  water  and  min- 
erals, either  entirely  at  the  cost  of  the  government  or  in  connection  with 
individuals. 

(e)  The  direct  expenditure,  or  the  loan  of  money  for  constructing  drain- 
age tunnels,  sinking  shafts  to  great  depths  and  transporting  miners  to  un- 
developed  regions. 

Under  these  provisions  the  Coolgardie  water  system,  built  to  carry 
5,000,000  gallons  per  day  a  distance  of  351  miles  to  an  elevation  of  1  200 
feet   above   the    supply    point,    cost    the    government    $18,000,000. 

The  annual  production  of  Western  Australia  stimulated  bv  this  assistance 
for  eight  years  past,  has  averaged  from  thirty  to  forty  million  dollars,  in 
gold. 

Is  this  paternalism  gone  mad?  If  this  assistance  were  given  to  stimulate 
the  production  of  an  ordinary  article  of  commerce,  yes.  But  when  the  pur- 
pose is  to  bring  about  the  production  of  the  life  blood  of  trade,  that  without 
which  all  commerce  and  industry  must  revert  to  the  barter  system,  which 
means  the  entire  annihilation  of  our  modern  commercial  life,  we  are  forced 
to   view   it   from   a   different   standpoint. 

We  do  not  ask  for  such  assistance  as  this  in  the  United  States,  but  we 
do  ask  that  such  investigations  shall  be  made  as  will  be  of  general  benefit 
to  the  industry  without  in  any  way  trespassing  upon  the  prerogative  of 
state    or    individual. 

If  we  can  succeed  in  bringing  home  to  the  people  of  the  West  the  im- 
portance of  a  greater  development  of  the  mining  industries,  if  we  can  be 
brought  to  a  realization  of  the  fact  that  nearly  all  of  our  progress  is  founded 
on  our  mineral  development,   we  shall   have  made  an  important  step. 

The  people  of  the  Trans-Mississippi  States  must  awaken  to  the  importance 
of  this  fact,  if  our  future  growth  is  to  be  at  all  in  line  with  our  possibilities. 
Are  we  too  enthusiastic?  Do  we  over-estimate  the  importance  of  these  con- 
ditions?     Let    us   see. 

From  the  landing  of  the  Pilgrims  at  Plymouth  and  the  settlement  of 
Jamestown  over  two  centuries  have  elapsed.  The  Missouri  River  marked  the 
extreme  western  border  of  civilization.  During  this  period  the  scarcity  of 
money  retarded  trade  and  made  modern  commerce  impossible.  In  the  year 
1847  the  country  west  of  the  Mississippi  River  was  a  great  unknown  territory. 
Its  only  town  of  importance  was  Portland,  then  consisting  of  two  frame 
houses  and  a  few  log  cabins.  Along  the  shore  line  a  few  hardy  pioneers 
resided,   mostly   engaged   in   lumbering. 

An  almost  unbroken  line  of  wilderness  presented  its  front  to  the  Pacific 
from  Puget  Sound  to  Lower  California.  A  quiet  was  over  the  face  of  Nature, 
more  intense  than  the  stillness  which  reigned  in  Bethlehem  prior  to  the  ap- 
pearance of  the  Star  in  the  East,  from  which  dated  the  new,  the  great  era 
of    the    world's    history. 

But  another  era  dawned.  Over  at  Sutter's  Creek  Jim  Marshall's  discovery 
of  gold  was  the  lode  star,  which  the  world  and  all  the  world  has  always 
followed. 

It  led  to  the  peopling  of  California  and  the  other  Coast  states.  It  led  to 
the  discovery  of  gold  in  Colorado,  and  other  Rocky  Mountain  states.  It  made 
the  Trans-M'ississippi  Empire.  Not  only  was  the  West  peopled  by  the  mining 
pioneers,  but  the  result  of  the  production  of  gold  gave  new  life  to  the  business 
of  the  East.  The  old  river  bed  which  had  been  unable  to  float  a  raft  was 
now   able   to   carry   the    ships    of   a    renewed   commerce. 

The  growth  of  the  United  States  as  a  world  power  began  at  Sutter  s 
Creek  in  1848;  a  growth  so  rapid  as  to  astonish  the  world.  More  than  that, 
during  the  dark  days  of  the  Civil  War  the  gold  of  California  and  the  silver 
of  Nevada  saved  the  Nation's  credit  and  played  an  important  part  in  the 
preservation  of  the  Union.  My  purpose  in  pointing  out  the  connection  between 
mineral  production,  and  industrial  prosperity  is,  to  show  the  necessity  of 
keeping  up  the  ratio  of  production,  if  we  look  for  a  continued  prosperity. 


92  REPORT    OF    PROCEEDINGS 

Checking  waste  is  creating  wealth.  Cutting  down  the  cost  of  production 
is  more   important    to    the    producer  than    increasing    the   market   price. 

Our  national  prosperit y  is  woven  from  the  products  of  the  earth.  Waste 
in  reproducible  products  Is  a  great  wrong.  Waste  in  products  which  once 
exhausted   cannot    be    replaced,    is   a   crime. 

We  hope  to  develop  through  the  American  Mining  Congress  a  National 
University  of  -Mining,  in  which  productive  scholarship  shall  be  concentrated 
into   a   powerful    engine   of   national   progress. 

In  this  university  practical  industrial  investigation  would  point  out  the 
highest  development  of  the  country's  natural  resources.  State  supervision 
and  Federal  exposition  of  better  methods  should  go  hand  in  hand  in  checking 
useless  waste  of  our  mineral  resources.  For  the  first  we  look  to  the 
promised  Bureau  of  Mines;  for  the  second,  the  active  co-operation  of  the 
state  legislatures,  in  putting  in  effect  such  supervisory  measures  as,  after 
careful  deliberation,  shall  be  decided  upon  as  best.  By  this  method  a  uni- 
formity of  legislative  provisions  can  best  be  attained  and  each  legislature 
have  the  benefit  of  the  experience  and  study  of  others,  upon  which  to  base 
its  action. 

The  great  importance  of  mineral  conservation  is  based  upon  the  fact 
that  there  is  only  a  fixed  and  limited  amount  of  ore  in  existence.  That  which 
is  mined  and  used  has  served  its  purpose.  That  which  is  lost  by  wasteful 
methods  lias  served  no  purpose  and  has  been  so  handled  as  to  forever  pre- 
vent  its   application    to   any    beneficial    use. 

When  we  realize  the  absolute  necessity  for  the  use  of  metals  as  a  basis 
of  modern  production,  we  can  to  some  extent  appreciate  the  enormity  of  the 
offense   of    wasting    our   mineral    resources. 

Prosperity  always  breeds  waste,  and  a  period  of  business  depression 
always  hegets  greater  economy  in  management.  Josh  Billings  once  said  that 
the  only  thing  tight  hoots  were  good  for  was  to  make  a  man  forget  all  his 
other  troubles.  One  of  the  uses  of  a  panic  is  that  it  results  in  the  diminution 
of  waste. 

Conservation  does  not  mean  hoarding.  It  anticipates  the  fullest  use  and 
at  the  same  time  the  prevention  of  unnecessary  waste;  of  waste  which  puts 
the  wealth  beyond   the   possibility   of   future   recovery. 

The  waste  of  our  coal  resources  both  in  mining  and  in  methods  of 
utilization  is  so  enormous  as  to  be  a  public  humiliation.  Thus  far  in  our 
history  about  seven  billion  tons  of  coal  have  been  mined,  and  the  best 
authorities  tell  us  that  at  least  three  billion  tons  have  been  left  in  abandoned 
mines   and   lost  beyond   power   of  recovery. 

Tin-  testimony  given  before  the  Mines  and  Mining  Committee  of  the 
House  of  Representatives  at  Washington,  at  the  hearings  for  the  considera- 
tion of  the  establishment  of  a  Bureau  of  Mines.  Justifies  the  statement  that 
a  very  large  percentage  of  merchantable  coal  is  thus  wasted  and  that  a 
much  larger  amount  containing  sulphur  or  other  deleterious  ingredients  is 
now  unmined  and  wasted  for  which  scientific  investigation  would  find  a 
method    of    utilization. 

In  the  use  of  coal  a  verv  great  loss  is  sustained.  It  is  stated  that  not 
over  five  per  cent  of  the  amount  of  coal  used  by  our  railroads  is  transformed 
into  actual  energy.  In  the  production  of  electric  light  less  than  one-fifth  of 
one  per  cent    of  the  theoretical   value  is  actually  converted   into  light. 

The  enormously  increasing  consumption  of  coal  for  heat,  light  and 
power  is  almost  startling.  The  amount  of  coal  consumed  in  this  country 
during  the  year  1907  more  than  was  consumed  in  linn;  was  greater  than  the 
total    consumption    in    ISTt;. 

In  his  address  before  the  President's  conference  on  the  conservation  of 
natural  resources  at  Washington,  Dr.  I.  C.  White,  State  Geologist  of  West 
Virginia,  made  this  statement:  "How  long  can  we  hope  to  maintain  this 
industrial  supremacy  in  the  iron  and  steel  business  of  the  world?  Just  as 
long  as  the  Appalachian  coal  field  shall  continue  to  furnish  cheap  fuel 
and  no  longer.  If  the  wasteful  methods  of  the  past  are  to  continue;  if  the 
(lames  of  35,000  coke  ovens  are  to  continue  to  make  the  sky  lurid  within 
sight  of  the  city  of  Pittsburg,  consuming  with  frightful  speed  one-third  of 
the  Dower  and  half  of  the  values  locked  up  in  these  priceless  supplies  of 
coking  coal,  the  present  century  will  see  the  termination  of  the  supremacy." 
Dr.  White  is  one  of  the  best  authorities  in  the  United  States  upon  this  sub- 
ject and  his  warning   should   be   carefully    heeded. 

Water    Power. 

The  problem  of  extending  the  life  of  our  coal  supplies  merits  the  careful 
attention  of  every  thoughtful  citizen.  Much  progress  is  being  made  along 
the  line  of  a  more  perfect  utilization  through  the  Technological  Branch  of  the 
U.  s.  Geological  Survey,  which  will  be  placed  under  the  Bureau  of  Mines  if 
the  bill  now  pending   in    tin-   U.   S.   Senate  shall    be   finally    passed. 

A  careful  investigation  of  the  methods  of  mining  and  milling,  made  by 
a  number  of  scientific  men  last  year  in  the  Joplin  zinc  lead  district,  led  to 
the  conclusion  that  from  4">  to  60  per  cent  of  the  total  mineral    values  in   that 


TRANS-MISSISSfPPI    COMMERCIAL    CONGRESS  93 


In  the  treatment  of  copper  ores,  the  loss  in  mining  and  milling  averages 
iirty  per  cent  It  is  estimated  that  the  tailings  from  one  mill  in  \r  /,?.  a 
irry    away    fourteen    tons    of    copper    daily.  ona 


thi 
car 

.J'LwL0*?  ll  ELe    "i.*!?*    ot~J°™   a"n"d">'ilver    ores    has   -oeen    decreased    to 


The  loss  in  the  treatment  of  gold  and  silver  ores,  during  the  nast  fiftv 
years  has  probably  exceeded  twenty-five  per  cent;  in  many  clses  as  high  as 
forty  per  cent.  During  recent  years  improved  metallurgical  prm-  ess  's  ave 
developed  a  much   greater  efficiency,  but  there  is  still  a  great  loss 

It  is  not  believed  that  all  of  the  losses  can  be  prevented  l,v  commercial 
methods,  but  it  is  believed  that  a  large  part  may  be  through  '  scientific  in- 
vestigation and  experiment,  which  the  individual  cannot  afford  to  conduct 
for  himself,  and  where  the  solution  would  be  for  the  benefit  of  all 

There  are  two  kind3  of  waste:  One  of  practical  annihilation  which  for- 
ever prevents  the  use  by  anyone  of  the  material  thus  wasted'  the  other 
which  diverts  from  the  real  owner  that  to  which  he  is  entitled,  and  which  so 
tar  as   he   is  concerned,   is   wasted. 

A  preacher  began  his  discourse  one  Sunday  morning  by  announcing  that 
his  subject  that  morning  was  "The  World,  the  Flesh,  and  the  D°vil  I  shall 
deal  lightly  with  the  World,  pass  quickly  over  the  Flesh,  and  hurry  on  as 
rapidly  as  possible  to  the  Devil." 

This  reminds  me  that  I  haven't  said  anything  about  the  Standard  Oil 
Company. 

Until  a  few  years  ago  the  reduction  of  refractory  ores  was  in  the  hands 
of  various  smelting  interests,  so  competing  with  each  other  as  to  keep  the 
charges  on  a  fairly  satisfactory  basis — but  the  possibilities  were  too  great 
to  be  long  neglected. 

The  so-called  "Smelter  Trust,"  the  American  Smelting  and  Refining  Com- 
pany, was  organized,  and  it  has  been  successfully  operated. 

During  the  three  years  ending  April  30th,  1908,  it  made  a  net  profit  of 
$29,304,324,  upon  a  capitalization  of  one  hundred  millions,  two-thirds  of  which 
was  water,  and  this  was  during  the  panic.  It  is  difficult  to  predict  what  they 
may  be  able  to  do  in  good  times.  I  want  to  point  out  to  you  that  the  Standard 
Oil  Company,  through  its  most  powerful  agencj%  the  American  Smelting  and 
Refining  Company,  today  controls  seventy-five  per  cent  of  the  best  brains  in 
the  metallurgical  world;  seventy-five  per  cent  of  the  facilities  for  ore  smelt- 
ing, and  through  these  and  the  mines  which  it  already  owns,  controls  seventy- 
five  per  cent  of  the  future  production  of  gold  and  silver  and  copper  and  lead 
in  the  United  States.  Through  these  agencies  it  is  in  a  position  to  practically 
control  the  total  output  of  these  minerals.  When  you  consider  the  power  of 
the  Standard  Oil  Company,  gained  through  the  control  of  oil  products,  for 
which  there  are  many  substitutes,  and  without  which  the  world  could  wag 
along  quite  comfortably,  what  do  you  believe  will  be  the  result  when  this 
control  is  exercised  over  the  metals  which  are  absolutely  essential  to  our 
industrial  life? 

Do  you  see  the  possibility  of  closing  the  mines  of  the  West  by  prohibitory 
treatment  charges  while  the  value  of  metals  is  increased  in  the  markets  by 
the  stoppage  of  production  in  the  West?  Do  you  see  the  possibility  of  pur- 
chasing the  valuable  mines  at  a  great  bargain,  after  they  have  been  made 
valueless  to  the  owners  by  prohibitory  transportation  and  treatment  charges? 
If  you  see  this,  you  will  at  least  sympathize  with  the  work  of  the  American 
Mining  Congress,  which  is  attemptng  to  prevent  the  consummation  of  these 
conditions   by   creating  competition. 

The  doings  of  the  American  Smelting  and  Refining  Company  are  of  inter- 
est in  this  connection  only  so  far  as  they  place  an  unjust  an. I  Inequitable 
burden  upon  the  ore  producer,  and  thus  restrict  the  output  of  minerals. 

If  it  is  shown  that  the  ore  producer  receives  but  approximately  fifty  per 
cent  of  the  value  of  his  ore  after  paying  the  regular  charges  for  smelting 
and  transportation,  it  must  be  conceded  either  that  a  more  effective  method 
of  smelting  should  be  devised,  or  else  that  the  Smelting  Trust  should  1"' 
forced  to  quit  deducting  profits  under  the  guise  of  penalties. 

A    paper    recently    published    in    the    Engineering    and    Mining    Journal    of 
New    York,    contributed    by    an    engineer    of    high    standing    in    his    profession, 
shows  that  on   shipments  covering  a  period   of  eight   years   the   miner   receive. 1 
fifty-four  per  cent  of  the  value  of  his  ore;  the  smelter  charges    were   four 
per   cent;    while    the   amount    unaccounted   for   was    thirty-one    per    cent. 


94  REPORT    OF    PROCEEDINGS 

charge  openly  made  by  the  smelter  for  treatmenl  was  (5.09  per  ton;  the 
amount  unaccounted  for  was  $11.4:!  per  ton.  in  other  words,  thirty-one  per 
cenl    "f  the  value  of  eight  years'  shipments   was  either  lost  or  stolen. 

I  am  not  readv  to  admit  that  all  of  this  loss  is  waste  hut  upon  the 
theory  that  one-half  of  this  loss  to  the  ore  producer  is  wasted  in  tin-  smelting 
operation,  it  is  patent  that  our  Governmenl  should  investigate  the  various 
methods  witli  a  view  to  its  prevention.  Would  this  he  an  unusual  thing  for 
the  Government? 

For  answer,  I  point  to  the  investigations  made  by  the  Department  of 
Agriculture.  Has  anyone  interested  or  otherwise  adversely  criticized  the 
Department  which  found  a  remedy  for  the  San  Jose  scale;  which  turned  the 
rig-raising  industry  of  California  from  a  failure  to  a  magnificent  success; 
which  is  now  seeking  to  prevent  the  destruction  of  the  cotton  crop  of  Texas 
by  the  boll  weevils?  Which,  in  every  field  of  agriculture,  from  the  culture 
of  seeds,  the  creation  of  new  varieties  of  plants  and  the  destruction  of  pests, 
is  seeking  to  increase  agricultural  production? 

It  is  my  belief  that  the  prevention  of  waste  and  the  increase  of  mineral 
production  are  vitally  essential  to  our  rapidly  Increasing  industrial  pros- 
perity. The  people  of  this  country  do  not  fully  realize  the  importance  of 
these  facts,  and.  in  consequence,  have  not  impressed  upon  the  Government, 
which  is  the  organized  expression  of  the  public  will,  the  necessity  of  making 
an  adequate  effort  either  to  prevent   waste   or   to   increase   production. 

It  may  be  that  my  subject  does  not  properly  include  some  of  these 
topics,  but  from  the  standpoint  of  the  miner  every  waste  which  interferes 
with    the   ultimate  sum   of  profits   from   his   enterprises   is    important. 

It  has  been  my  purpose  to  discuss  the  subject  from  tin-  standpoint  of  the 
industrial  progress  of  today,  and  the  sentimental  view  of  what  our  duty  may 
be  to  future  generations  has  thus  far  been  ignored.  I  must,  however,  call 
attention  to  the  right  of  future  generations  to  expect  that  we  shall  transmit 
to  them  the  bounties  which  we  have  inherited  without  unnecessary  impair- 
ment. It  was  the  discipline  of  our  fathers,  growing  out  of  hardship  and 
struggle  and  privation  which  transmitted  to  us  the  blessings  of  a  fruitful 
land  and  a  free  government,  and  which  developed  a  citizenship  of  the  highest 
order. 

The  great  purpose  of  this  life  is  the  upbuilding  of  human  character.  It 
is  because  I  believe  that  the  greater  development  of  the  mining  industry 
will  make  for  a  better  manhood  and  a  better  womanhood  that  1  urge  such 
union  of  effort  as  will  accomplish   this   result. 

Individual  effort  has  accomplished  much  and  will  do  much  more.  We 
ask  that  the  Government  shall  give  some  attention  to  that  industry  which, 
beginning  at  Sutter  Creek  in  1848,  opened  up  and  developed  this  great  Western 
Empire;  which  furnishes  more  than  half  the  total  tonnage  handled  by  our 
railroads;  which  served  the  Nation's  credit  during  the  dark  days  of  rebellion; 
which  furnishes  the  iron  from  which  our  machinery  is  made;  the  coal  which 
furnishes  our  power;  the  copper  which  transmits  our  thought;  the  gold 
which  measures  our  values  and  those  chemical  forces  which  are  revolutioniz- 
ing our  industries,  and  which  today  can  furnish  the  only  permanent  solution 
to  the  great   financial   problem. 

Gentlemen,   I  thank   you.      (Applause.) 

By  President  Case: 

Gentlemen  of  the  Congress:  We  have  with  us  today  the  Attorney- 
General  of  Colorado,  who  is  the  personal  representative  of  the  Governor, 
Honorable  H.  A.  Buchtel.  I  desire  at  this  time  to  compliment  the  delegation 
of  Colorado  upon  its  being  the  second  largest  delegation,  upwards 
of  100  representative  men,  attending  the  Congress  this  year.  I  now  have 
great  pleasure  in  introducing  to  you  Honorable  W.  H.  Dickson,  of  Colorado, 
who  will  address  you  upon  the  subject  of  "The  Irrigation  and  Disposition 
of  Public  Lands."      (Applause.) 

TDK    IRRIGATION    AND    DISPOSITION    OF    PUBLIC    LANDS. 
II y  Hon.  \V.  H.  Dlekaon,  Attorney-General  of  Colorado. 
Ily  Mr.  Dickson,  of  Denveri 

Mr.  President,  and  Gentlemen:  Speaking  before  this  Congress  is  a  good 
deal  like  making  political  speeches  from  the  rear  end  of  a  train.  You  have 
your  audience  coming  and  going  most   of  the  time. 

The  subject  which  has  been  submitted  to  me.  "Phi'  irrigation  and  Disposi- 
tion of  Public  Lands.''  is  a  pretty  broad  one.  It  covers  a  great  deal.  Hut  1 
shall  only  undertake  to  1 1  i t  the  high  places  this  afternoon,  ami  occupy  but 
a  very  short  time.     I   must   say  at  the  outset  that    1   am   unfortunately   not  going 


TRANS-MISSISSIPPI    COMMERCIAL    CONGRESS  95 

to  be  able  to  agree  with  some  of  the  speakers  who  have  preceded  me,  particu- 
larly with  Governor  Cutler,  of  Utah. 

No  question  that  will  be  dealt  with  by  this  Congress  is  of  nu.ro  importance 
to  the  people  of  the  vast  territory  lying  west  of  the  Mississippi  River  than 
the  reclamation  ot  its  and  lands.  The  subject  of  irrigation  is  older  than 
this  country  itself,  and  yet  it  has  only  been  within  the  last  few  years  that  the 
General  Government  has  taken  any  particular  interest  in  the  matter  For 
years  the  arid  plains  of  the  West  have  been  yearning  for  the  water  which  haa 
annually  gone  to  waste.  Private  individuals  and  a  few  irrigation  companies 
have  from  time  to  time  provided  the  means  for  irrigating  small  tracts  ,,f 
land,  yet  it  was  considered  too  much  of  an  experiment  for  the  investment  of 
large  sums  of  money,  but  as  land  is  the  basis  of  all  wealth  and  as  the  farms 
in  the  East  have  all  been  taken  up,  or  the  soil  worn  out,  the  attention  of  the 
farmers  in  such  states  as  Illinois,  Indiana.  Iowa,  Wisconsin,  and  Missouri 
has  been  directed  toward  the  more  fertile  soil  of  Colorado,  New  Mexico! 
Idaho,  and  other  far  Western  States. 

The  National  Government  had  been  making  experiments  with  reference 
to  the  irrigation  of  arid  lands  of  the  West  for  a  great  number  of  years,  and 
finally  on  June  17th,  1902,  Congress  passed  what  is  now  known  as  "The  Recla- 
mation Act,"  which  provides  that  the  proceeds  from  the  sale  of  public  lands 
shall  be  reserved  and  set  aside  and  known  as  the  "reclamation  fund"  for  the 
construction  and  maintenance  of  irrigation  works  for  the  reclamation  of 
arid  and  semi-arid  lands  in  sixteen  of  the  Western  States  and  Territories. 
This  work  was  to  be  done  under  the  supervision  of  the  Secretary  of  the 
Interior.  In  order  to  carry  out  these  operations  there  has  been  gradually 
created  what  is  known  as  the  "Reclamation  Service,"  not  by  any  law,  you 
understand,  but  it  has  been  the  outgrowth  of  what  they  have  been  doing 
under  the  Reclamation  Act.  Under  the  direction  of  the  Reclamation  Service, 
examinations  and  surveys  have  been  made  in  every  state  brought  under  the 
provisions  of  the  act  and  a  great  deal  of  actual  construction  work  has  been 
done  and  is  now  in  progress. 

The  passage  of  this  act  for  the  conservation  and  development  of  the 
natural  resources  of  the  country  met  with  such  general  approval  and  at  once 
became  so  popular  that  much  more  has  been  accomplished  during  the  six 
years  the  act  has  been  in  force  than  even  the  most  optimistic  of  its  support- 
ers had  hoped  for,  and  still  the  progress  is  not  rapid  enough  to  keep  up  with 
the  demands  of  prospective  settlers,  and  my  plea  today  is  in  behalf  of  larger 
appropriations  by  Congress  for  the  purpose  of  extending  this  splendid  work 
so  well  begun   under  the  Reclamation   Act. 

The  effect  of  the  action  of  the  Government  in  these  matters  has  greatly 
stimulated  the  investment  of  private  capital  in  the  construction  of  canals 
and  reservoirs  to  conserve  and  utilize  the  flood  waters  of  these  Western 
States.  Since  it  became  apparent  that  the  United  States  Government,  after 
making  careful  examinations  and  surveys,  was  willing  to  appropriate  millions 
of  dollars  toward  the  reclamation  of  arid  lands,  this  immediately  inspired  con- 
fidence in  private  enterprises  of  a  similar  nature,  so  that  we  have  been  able 
to  make  wonderful  strides  in  this  direction  since  securing  governmental 
approval   of  these  enterprises. 

A  great  many  of  these  reservoir  and  irrigation  projects  are  so  large  and 
the  engineering  difficulties  so  great  that  it  is  hardly  possible  to  expect  private 
capital  to  take  hold  of  them,  and  it  is  upon  these  projects  in  particular  that 
we  are  anxious  to  have  the  aid  of  the  federal  Government.  There  is  no 
more  reason  why  these  great  western  commonwealths  should  not  be  as 
liberally  treated  in  the  matter  of  appropriations  for  these  purposes  as  the 
other  states  in  the  Union  have  been  for  their  rivers  and  harbors,  for  it 
means  an  expansion  in  business  as  well  as  a  growth  in  population,  and  where 
we  profit  in  the  West  by  bringing  under  cultivation  the  millions  of  acres  of 
fine  arable  land,  so  do  all  the  states  of  the  Union  profit  because  of  the 
increase  in  production  of  the  commodities  which  are  essential  to  their  pros- 
perity and  comfort,  as  well  as  the  very  waterways  for  which  so  much  mom  > 
has  been  appropriated  in  the  past  in  order  to  facilitate  the  commerce  of  the 
country. 

The  other  question  which  I  desire  to  take  up  and  which  is  closely  allied 
to  that  of  the  conserving  of  water  and  the  irrigation  of  land,  is  the  dis- 
position of  public  lands,  and  by  this  I  mean  the  disposition  of  state  land  as 
well  as  the  disposition  of  Government  land.  In  all  these  Western  States 
there  are  millions  of  acres  of  vacant  Government  land.  Much  of  it  is  designated 
as  desert  land,  and  can  be  taken  up  under  the  Desert  Land  Act,  that  is,  by 
actually  applying  water  to  the  land  and  cultivating  a  portion   of  it. 

I  think  that  the  terms  upon  which  this  land  can  be  obtained  from  the 
Government  should  be  made  as  easy  to  the  actual  bona  fide  settler  as  possible; 
that  everv  inducement  should  be  held  out  to  the  actual  settler  to  file  upon 
this  land  and  become  a  tax-paying  resident  of  the  state  of  his  choice.  At  the 
present  time  a  filer  upon  land  under  the  Desert  Land  Act  must  make  his  final 


96  REPORT    OF    PROCEEDINGS 

proof  within  four  years.  I  believe  that  this  time  should  be  extended  to  at 
hast  seven  years,  so  that  lie  may  have  ample  opportunity  to  secure  sufficient 
water  supply  with  which  to  make  his  final  proof  and  obtain  title  from  the 
Governmenl  and  provide  for  his  future  needs  upon  the  land.  One  small 
settler  upon  a  vasl  trad  of  arid  land  is  absolutely  helpless.  He  can  do  noth- 
ing except  through  the  co-operation  of  many  others  who  are  also  interested 
in  reclaiming  the  land,  and  I  believe  that  with  an  extension  of  time  under  the 
Desert  Land  Act  to  seven  years  that  these  private  individuals  who  file  upon 
this  land  will  then  have  an  opportunity  to  get  together  among  themselves 
and  devise  ways  and  means  of  securing  water  for  the  irrigation  of  their  lands. 

There  is  at  the  present  time  a  large  amount  of  splendid  agricultural  land 
within  what  is  known  as  the  "Forest  Reserves"  of  the  several  states.  I  do 
not  know  what  the  ob.iect  of  the  Department  of  the  Interior  is  in  thus 
extending  the  Forest  Reserves.  We  have  been  told  that  it  is  the  intention  of 
the  Forest  Service  to  undertake  the  growing  of  trees  upon  this  vacant  agri- 
cultural land.  That  was  told  us  this  afternoon  by  Governor  Cutler,  of  Utah. 
I  do  not  believe  thai  this  is  either  practical  or  wise.  On  the  contrary  I 
believe  that  every  ;trr,^  of  agricultural  land  should  be  taken  out  of  these 
forest  reserves  at  the  very  flrsl  opportunity  and  placed  at  the  disposal  of 
actual  settlers,  and  I  believe  that  the  actual  settlers  of  these  tracts  will 
without  any  coercion  within  the  next  twenty  years  plant  more  trees  and 
better  tend  to  the  conservation  of  the  water  than  all  the  efforts  which  the 
Government  of  the  United  States  has  now  planned  or  will  hereafter  under- 
take to  do. 

We  are  all  in  favor  of  forest  reserves;  we  are  in  favor  of  saving  the 
trees  that  are  now  upon  these  forest  reserves,  and  we  are  in  favor  of 
encouraging  the  planting  and  cultivating  of  new  trees,  but  I  believe  that. 
it  is  more  important  that  the  people  of  this  country  who  want  the  opportunity 
to  take  up  this  vacant  agricultural  land  which  is  now  within  the  forest  reserve 
should  have  that  privilege,  so  that  they  may  become  property-owning  citi- 
zens and  taxpayers  upon  the  property  which  they  will  naturally  increase  the 
value  of.  There  are  plenty  of  people  in  this  country  who  are  not  only  willing 
but  anxious  to  settle  these  lands.  All  they  want  is  the  opportunity  and 
encouragement  which  the  Government  of  the  United  States  should  be  willing 
to  give  them.  Most  of  these  would-be  settlers  are  people  of  small  means  who 
are  compelled  by  necessity  to  make  their  start  in  a  small  way  by  the  sweat 
of   their  brows. 

The  argument  is  frequently  made  that  conditions  are  already  sufficiently 
enticing  to  these  would-be  settlers  if  they  but  choose  to  take  advantage  of 
them.  The  answer  to  this  argument  is  that  within  the  past  two  years 
thousands  of  people  have  immigrated  to  British  Columbia  from  our  own 
states  because  they  could  acquire  land  easier  and  upon  more  liberal  terms 
there  than  they  could  in  this  country,  and  the  lands  that  they  have  gone  to 
British  Columbia  to  settle  upon  cannot  he  compared  to  the  lands  in  Colorado 
and  the  other  semi-arid  states  of  the  West  when  it  comes  to  the  abundance 
and   variety  of  the  crops  which   can   he  produced   thereon. 

In  the  state  of  Colorado  there  are  now  nearly  four  million  acres  of 
state  land,  of  which  about  two  and  a  half  million  acres  are  under  lease  for 
all  purposes.  For  many  years  it  was  the  policy  of  the  State  Board  of  Land 
Commissioners  to  discourage  the  sale  of  state  lands  and  to  adopt  the  exclusive 
basing  system,  upon  the  theory  that  whatever  land  was  sold  was  robbing 
future  generations  and  depriving  the  state  and  the  public  schools  of  land 
Which  would  some  day  become  very  valuable.  This  notion  is  gradually 
becoming  dissipated  and  is  giving  way  to  the  more  sane  idea  of  developing 
the  state  by  inviting  actual  settlers  to  take  up  the  state  land,  develop  it, 
and  become  tax-paying  citizens. 

The  present  State  Land  Board  has  always  discouraged  the  sale  and 
leasing  of  public  lands  to  large  corporations  for  purely  speculative  purposes, 
but  in  a  state  with  such  vast  tracts  of  unoccupied  land  as  we  have  in  Colorado 
it  is  for  the  benefit  both  of  the  state  and  its  public  school  system  to  encourage 
the  purchase  of  its  land  at  a  fair  value,  arrived  at  at  the  time  application  Is 
made  for  its  purchase,  upon  the  theory  that  an  actual  bona  tide  settler  will 
develop  this  land  and   pay   more  taxes  into  the  school   fund   from  year  to  year 

than    the    Interest    would    amount    t i    the    increase    in    value    of    this    property 

if  allowed   to    remain    in    the    hands    of   the   state. 

The  only  sound  policy  for  the  handling  of  public  lands  is  to  place  them 
in  the  hands  of  settlers  who  will  reclaim  the  land,  construct  homes  and  pro- 
vide water  for  Irrigation.  We  do  not  want  a  tenantry  citizenship  in  this 
country,  hut  communities  of  tax-paying  citizens.  In  considering  this  question 
of  the  disposition  of  the  state  lands  the  matter  of  Irrigation  plays  the  most 
important  part,  h  is  the  somce  of  agricultural  prosperity.  In  Colorado  we 
have    a    statute    which    enables    the    State    Land     Hoard     to    sell    every    alternate 

one-half    sec  t  i f    land    lying    under    a    proposed    irrigation    system,    and    at    the 

same    time    arrange    for    the    purchase    of    water    for    the    remaining    alternate 


OF  THE 


FB  \\K     II.    Mimtl.    Fresno,    California. 


TRANS-MISSISSIPPI    COMMERCIAL    CONGRESS  97 

section  so  that  while  we  are  unable  to  get  more  than  the  actual  value  of 
one- half  of  the  land  as  dry  land,  we  are  enabled  to  sell  the  other  half  as 
irrigated  land,  or  at  least  land  with  water  rights.  This  is  not  only  a  great 
financial  benefit  to  the  state,  but  is  an  encouragement  to  the  builders  oY  the 
irrigation  projects  which  is  so  necessary  in  the  development  of  the  state 
It  has  been  suggested  that  this  Congress  can  accomplish  much  toward  securing 

uniform    laws    respecting    irrigation,    and    also    with    respect    to    the    in >f 

handling  these  public  lands.  I  believe  that  this  is  true  and  that  everv  effort 
should  be  made  in  that  direction,  always  having  in  mind  the  idea  of  making 
it  easier  and  more  inviting  to  the  bona  fide  settler,  as  well  as  the  Investor 
of  capital  which  is  so  much  needed  in  the  development  of  these  great  natural 
resources   of  the  West. 

I  thank   you.      (Applause.) 

By  President  Case: 

ADout  a  year  ago  I  had  the  pleasure,  in  the  city  of  Denver,  of  attending 
the  Public  Lands  Convention.  Represented  there  was  nearly  every  semi- 
arid  state  in  the  Trans-Mississippi  section.  I  was  designated  from  my  State 
as  one  of  the  Committee  on  Resolutions.  I  think  that  committee  consisted 
of  sixteen  members.  As  near  as  I  can  tell,  we  occupied  about  three  days 
and  most  of  three  nights  in  service  upon  that  important  committee.  We 
had  some  of  the  best  men  in  the  entire  West  upon  that  committee,  a  good 
representative  from  every  state.  The  subjects  that  were  presented  were 
given  a  great  deal  of  consideration.  And  when  the  resolutions  were  finally 
adopted  and  went  before  the  convention,  they  were  so  good,  so  nearly 
correct,  that  they  found  they  could  not  change  them  at  all,  and  they  were 
adopted  as  they  came  from  the  committee.  Upon  that  committee  I  had 
the  pleasure  of  making  the  acquaintance  of  the  member  from  California. 
1  desire  to  say,  in  the  interest  of  this  State,  that  the  people  did  themselves 
credit  when  they  sent  to  that  convention,  at  the  city  of  Denver,  the  gentle- 
man whom  it  is  now  my  pleasure  to  introduce.  He  worked  upon  that  com- 
mittee and  gave  to  it  all  of  his  capacity — the  Honorable  Frank  H.  Short,  of 
Fresno,  California.     (Applause.) 

THE   CONSERVATION   OF  OUR   NATURAL,   RESOURCES   AND   THE   PRESER- 
VATION    OF    OUR    FUNDAMENTAL,     POLITICAL     CONDITIONS 
AND    CONSTITUTIONAL    PRINCIPLES. 

By  Hon.  Frank  H.  Short,  of  California. 

B>-   Mr.   Short,  of  Fresno: 

Ladies  and  Gentlemen:  I  am  distracted  between  a  feeling  of  admiration 
for  the  durability  and  patience  of  this  audience,  and  a  desire  to  say  a  few 
things  upon  the  important  subject  that  has  been  assigned  to  me.  I  believe 
that  all  of  the  speakers  this  afternoon,  with  the  exception  of  myself,  have 
been  officials,  governors,  and  the  like.  It  was  therefore  with  some  perturbation 
that  I  concluded  to  undertake  to  address  this  audience  at  all,  following  so 
distinguished  an  assemblage  in  this  place  of  talkers.  But  as  I  sat  here,  I 
remember  that,  after  all,  the  officials  are  merely  servants,  and  the  citizens 
are  sovereigns,  and  that  therefore  I  would  be  the  first  real  sovereign  to 
address  the  audience  this  afternoon,  and  for  that  reason  perhaps  you  would 
sit  and  listen  to  one  of  yourselves  talk  to  you  a  little  while.      (Applause.) 

I  wish  for  a  few  minutes  to  draw  your  attention  to  the  San  Joaquin 
Valley;  not  in  detail;  not  even  to  describe  it;  but  for  the  purpose  of  pointing 
a  moral.  We  have  heard  so  much  in  these  latter  days  of  destruction  and 
conservation  that  I  wish  'to  call  your  attention  to  a  beneficial  creation. 
From  the  rivers  of  the  San  Joaquin  Valley  we  have  diverted  and  used  in  irri- 
gation of  arid  lands  perhaps  ten  or  twelve  thousand  cubic  feel  of  water 
flowing  per  second.  By  this  process  redeeming  from  the  desert  more  than  a 
million  and  a  half  of  acres  of  land  transformed  into  vineyards  and  orchards 
and  farms  unsurpassed  in  productiveness,  producing  crops  ol  the  annual 
value  of  nearly  eighty  millions  of  dollars.  Fresno  County  alone  last 
produced  fully  one-third  of  this  tremendous  total.  Not  only  have  we 
great  production  and  its  resulting  population  and  advancement,  bu1  we  nave 
the  equivalent  of  that  same  number  of  acres  of  forest  cover  and  a  like  result- 
ing effect  on  precipitation  of  rain  and  climatic  conditio  We  I 
reached  a  point  in  our  growth  and  civilization  when  the  wasting  Of  pur 
national  resources  should  be  checked,  and,  as  far  as  may  be,  prevented,  no 
informed    or    thoughtful    American    can    deny    that    those    who    are    engaged    in 


98  REPORT    OF    PROCEEDINGS 

the    laudable   cause    of   preventing    waste    of    resources,   encouraging-   their   de- 
velopment   and    bringing   about    improved    conditions    of    forestry,    agriculture 
and    mining-,   are    rendering   a    valuable   public   service    to    the    Nation.      Wide- 
spread   less   and    injury    would    follow    if   our   forests — especially    those   lying   at 
the  sources  of  our  rivers — were   removed  and  destroyed,  and    undoubtedly   Im- 
proved   methods    of   lumbering,   mining   and    farming   ought    to    be    encouraged 
in  all   Instances,   and   enforced   where  necessary,  to  stop  avoidable  destruction 
and    the    exhaustion    of    our    natural    resources.      With    all    of    these    policies 
reasonably    applied,    and    where    radical    measures    are    called    for,    vigorously 
enforced,    I   am   in   most    thorough  accord.     I  have  sometimes  thought,    however, 
that   we    have    gone  so   far   afield    in   the   denunciation   of   the   assumed    ruinous 
disregard    of    this    and    preceding    generations    for    the    interests    of    posterity, 
that    perhaps  a  few  words  in  defense,  or  rather  what  might  be  called  a  state- 
ment  of  the  other  view  would  he  of  value.     No  case  is  ready  to  go  to  the  jury 
until   the  evidence  for  both   sides   is  in,  and,   if  necessary,   the  argument   made. 
As   to  our  forests,   quite   one-third  of  our  country  could   never   have   been   made 
habitable    or   productive    without    removing   at    least   a   portion    of    the    forest 
growth.      There  being  no  market  for  the   timber  thus  cleared   away,    it    had    to 
be  destroyed.     Except  for  the  clearing  of  our  forests  millions  of  acres  of  land 
could   not  now   be   devoted   to  agriculture   and   the   maintenance   of   homes,   and 
without    the    use    of   our    forests    the    homes    scattered    all    over    our    land    could 
never   have   been  established,  neither  could  manufacturing  nor  commerce   have 
been  carried  on  or  our  cities  builded.     This  is  an  age  of  iron,  and   in   the  mul- 
tiplied   uses   of    this    metal   for    structural    purposes,    the    building    of    railroads 
and    in    the   construction    of    navy    and    merchant    marine,    we    have    made    great 
inroads  on   the   visible  supply,   but   what  may  be  as  yet  undeveloped    we   know 
little,   and   as   iron   is   not   consumed,   probable   ways   of   using   it    over   and    over 
again    will   be   devised   and   the   supply   continued   indefinitely.      By    the    modern 
methods    of    working    iron,    manufacturing    and    carrying    on    commerce,    vast 
quantities   of  coal    have   been   consumed,    but   as   the   known    quantities   of   coal 
are    very    great    and    the    undeveloped    sources    of   supply    must    be    very    exten- 
sive,   and    more    especially    as    other    and    more    economical    and    satisfactory 
methods   of  producing  power,    energy,  and   heat  are   coming   into   use,    we   may, 
I    think,  assume   that  coal   will   outlast   its  extensive   usefulness.      May    we   not, 
therefore,  assume  that  if  we  take  reasonable  precautions  to  save  the  remain- 
ing  necessary   forests  and  prevent   the   erosion   of   the   soil   and    its   exhaustion, 
and    all    unnecessary   waste    of    other   resources,    we   will    not   have   earned    the 
severe  condemnation  of  posterity? 

The  American   Indians  were  ideal  conservers.      If  they  did  not  create,   they 
did  not  destroy.     Through  unknown  generations  they  lived  in  forests  primeval, 
ami   hunted  over  fields  of  waving  green,  and  fished   in   rivers  that   ran   unvexed 
to    the    sea.      They    did    not   disturb,    therefore    did    not    increase    the    erosion    of 
the    soil.       Their    posterity,    however,    have    had    scant    enjoyment    of    the    tre- 
mendous   resources    thus    bequeathed    to    them.      AYe    and    our   ancestors    in    the 
using  of  those   natural   resources   have,    in    some   degree   at   least, unnecessarily 
wasted  them,  and  at  the  last  analysis  this  is  the  substance  of  the  entire  charge 
as  proven.     But  it   may  be  suggested,  if  I  am  friendly  to  the  policy  of  conser- 
vation,   why    oppose    any    of    the    claims    made    in    its    behalf,    and    I    lave    even 
heard   it   suggested    that   friends  of   the   cause  are   not   desired    unless    they    are 
prepared   to   go   to   the   limit   with    the   most   extreme   policies   advocated    in    its 
behalf?      In    reply    to   this    I   would   say:      First — That   it   is   not   always    safe   to 
assume    that    only    benefits    will    result    from    the    enforcement    of    any    policy 
if    in    connection    with    such    policy    it    is   proposed    to    make    important    or    funda- 
mental  changes   in   other  directions,   and   it   may   be  added    that    it    should   make 
little    difference    to    an    American    citizen    whether    his    friendly    assistance    or 
co-operation  is  desired  or  not.  Nobody  owns,  controls  or  possesses  any  copyright 
to   any    policy    in    this   country,   and    it    makes   scant   difference    to    me    whether 
my   assistance   is   desired    or    not,    so    long   as    1    have    the   approval    of    my    own 
conscience   in    the   performance  of  my   own   duty   and   in   stating  my   own   position 
as  an    American   citizen.     We  do  not  agree   that   only   benefits   can    result    from 
the  advocacy   of  this  policy   in   the  form  it  is  brought  forward  by  some  of  its 
extreme     advocates.        It      is     claimed     that     so     tremendous     is     the     destruction 
already   wrought  and  so  Imminent  is  the  danger  of  far-reaching  disaster  that 
the   entire   past    policy    of   this   Government    is   shown    to   have    been    a    grave, 
if    not    an    Irremediable    mistake,    and    that    the    situation    requires    an    immediate 
and    complete   change   of   policy,   not    merely    looking   to   economy    of    use,   the 
prevention,    waste   and    encouragement    to    new-production,    but    to    radical   and 
important     changes    in    the    policy    of    our    National    Governmenl    and    in    the 
relation    of    the    Nation    to    the    various    states.      It    is    claimed,    that     the    vast 
agricultural    and     mineral     resources    and    other    property    and     property     rights 
should  not  have  gone  into  private  ownership  at  all,  but  should  have  been  held, 
leased    and    controlled    by    the    Nation    to   prevent    monopolization,    destruction 
and    wasteful    use   that   all    such    remaining  resources— save    only,    perhaps,   lands 
taken   under  the  homestead  law— must  be  retained,  leased,  and  its  use  regulated 


TRANS-MISSISSIPPI    COMMERCIAL    CONGRESS  99 

by  the  National  Government.  Putting-  it  in  the  fewest  words,  American  citizens 
should  not  have  been  entrusted,  and  can  no  longer  be  entrusted  with  the 
resources  of  the  country;  but  that  the  Nation  should  have  retained  the  title 
and  as  to  what  remains,  should  retain  the  title  and  control  of  all  these 
resources  for  the  purpose  of  conservation,  regulation  and  guardianship 
apparently  assuming  that  a  nation  incapable  of  honest  and  jusl  distribution 
of  its  property  resources  among  the  people  in  private  ownership  would  be 
entirely  capable  of  efficiently,  honestly  and  impartially  holding  and  regulat- 
ing the  use  of  such  property.  This  claim  has  a  strangely  ancienl  sound  and 
resembles  greatly  the  policy  of  some  of  the  more  petrified  nations  of  this 
and  previous  generations,  and  nothing  short  of  the  extreme  claims  as  ad- 
vanced in  its  support  would  entitle  it  to  serious  consideration.  Our  fathers 
believed  that  the  least  government  was  the  best  and  founded  this  government 
upon  that  principle.  The  wise  men  of  this  generation  claim  thai  much  more 
government  was  needed  and  much  more  must  immediately  be  had.  Manifestly 
such  a  government  must  necessarily  be  principally  executive  in  all  functions; 
it  could  be  legislative  only  in  an  advisory  sense,  and  judicial  in  a  limited 
sense,  and  judicial  as  between  citizens  only.  Under  such  conditions  a  citizen 
could  be  recognized  as  having  few  rights  against  such  governmental  func- 
tions. And  as  'for  the  almost  forgotten  "sovereign  states,"  they  could  only 
assume  to  exercise  such  rights  as  did  not  conflict  with  this  new  order  of 
things.  For  the  purpose  of  efficiently  carrying  on  such  new  functions  of  gov- 
ernment all  other  branches  of  the  government  would  necessarily  become 
rmre  adjuncts  of  the  executive,  and  the  "sovereign  citizen"  would  no  longer 
exist,  but  would  of  necessity  take  off  his  hat  to  the  "sovereign  official."  It  is 
poss-ible  that  our  fathers  were  thus  profoundly  mistaken  and  that  paternalism 
in  government  is  still  necessary  and  that  the  people  may  not  yet  be  trusted 
with  their  own.  Frankly,  however,  I  confess  that  I  am  not  at  all  enamored 
of  these  strange  new  roads  to  old  conditions.  If  private  ownership  and  legis- 
lative-judicial government,  have  been  execrated  with  respect  to  the  de- 
struction of  our  natural  resources,  the  denunciation  has  been  mild,  indeed, 
as  compared  with  the  chorus  of  the  malcontents  and  the  muck-rakers  in  de- 
nunciation of  legislation  and  the  administration  of  the  law  under  these — 
our   democratic   conditions  and   our   democratic   form    of   government. 

Alas,  again  we  must  admit  that  we  are  human;  that  the  government  that 
we  have  given  ourselves  is  not  Utopian  in  its  perfection;  that  its  errors  and 
iniquities  and  imperfections  are  manifest.  We  might  even  go  so  far  as  to 
admit  that  those  who.  in  the  absence  of  other  authority,  have  elected  them- 
selves its  critics,  could  have  done  infinitely  better  if  the  people  had  been 
wise  enough  to  have  chosen  them  instead  of  others.  But  after  all  the  ques- 
tion is,  shall  we  take  counsel  of  the  past  and  with  renewed  faith  and  hope 
strive  on  to  better  things,  or  shall  we  turn  to  some  convenient  way  of  escape 
from  the  troubles  of  today,  quite  unmindful  of  the  evils  of  tomorrow?  Shall 
we  endure  the  ills  we  have  or  shall  we  fly  to  others  we  know  not  of?  We 
must  all  agree  there  are  many  things  that  ought  to  be  changed.  There  are 
vices  of  capital  and  vices  of  labor  that  must  be  met.  coped  with  and  removed; 
however,  met  and  removed  only  as  evils,  the  result  of  the  incapacity  and  the 
selfish  nature  of  the  race,  and  not  the  upgrowth  or  occasioned  by  any  fault  of 
our  democratic  form  of  government.  With  respect  to  the  conditions  of  today, 
I  presume  I  am  an  optimist;  I  do  not  agree  that  the  conditions  are  half  as  bad 
as  they  are  pictured,  and  with  respect  to  the  future,  in  one  sense  at  least, 
I  am  a  pessimist;  I  do  not  believe  that  we  will  be  half  as  prosperous  or  happy 
as  claimed  when  the  children  of  the  changing  way  have  turned  our  govern- 
ment upside  down  and  eliminated  the  Constitution,  if  this  shall  ever  happen, 
which  God  forbid.  I  have  not  made  these  preliminary  suggestions  as  a 
premise  for  debate  or  discussion,  but  merely  as  a  basis  for  comparison.  All 
things  in  human  affairs  are  comparative:  therefore,  what  are  the  comparative 
results  of  nearly  one  hundred  and  thirty  years  of  constitutional  government, 
"a  government  of  law  and  not  of  men,"  "  of  sovereign  citizens  and  official  serv- 
ants"? We  may  well  ask  ourselves  what  has  been  destroyed?  What 
created?  What  evil  done?  What  good  accomplished?  We  may  well  con- 
sider the  evils  of  the  trusts  and  of  organized  labor,  the  benefits  of  organiza- 
tions of  capital  and  the  advantages  of  co-operation  of  individuals.  We 
destroyed  extensive  forests  and  reduced  others,  partially  exhausted  mines 
of  coal  and  iron  and  precious  metals.  Where  stood  the  primeval  forest  and 
spread  the  green  of  vast  prairies  are  found  today  cities  and  factories  and 
hemes,  and  fields  and  farms  and  churches  and  schools  innumerable.  Let  me 
give  vou  one  illustration  of  my  point  of  view.  The  free  institutions  and 
opportunities  of  this  country  gave  to  the  world  and  to  mankind  the  philo- 
sophic and    inventive   mind   of  Benjamin    Franklin.      He   it   was    \v 1 1 •; 

development    and    use    of    electricity,    a    compensating    force    and    power    toi 
easily   equaling   for   the   needs   and    uses    of   men    every   acre    of    forest    growth 
destroyed  and  every  pound   of  coal   consumed   since  Columbus   landed   on    these 
western  shores.     It  is  easily  demonstrated,   that  once  regulated  and   harnessed, 


100  REPORT    OP    PROCEEDINGS 

the  rivers  oi  all  of  tne  Trans-Mississippi  country  v.  ill  furnish  a  supply  and 
Bource  of  energy  and  power  sufficient  to  illuminate  and  heat  all  of  our  cities 
ami  homes,  carrj  on  all  of  our  commerce  ami  manufacturing,  pump  all  avail- 
able water  for  the  irrigation  of  our  arid  lands,  and  supply  all  other  needful 
uses,  thus  largelj  reducing  the  destruction  of  our  forests  and  their  necessary 
use,  very  nearly  supplanting  coal  altogether,  all  of  which  is  being  brought 
about  With  a  SWifl  and  certain  rapidity  under  the  spur  of  modern  inventions 
and  modern  necessities.  This  source  of  energy  is  unconsumed  and  uncon- 
suming,  and  will  continue  undiminished  to  supply  the  needs  and  wants  of 
man  so  long  as  "flowers  bloom  and  rivers  run."  These  same  developments  of 
electricity  were  indispensable  in  connection  with  the  development  of  the 
telegraph,  the  telephone,  wireless  telegraphy  and  the  phonograph,  and  the 
almost  innumerable  other  advances  and  Improvements  in  the  modern  arts 
and  sciences.  Even  as  a  plain  every-day  conserver  of  natural  resources,  free 
institutions,  the  ordinary  sovereign  citizen  is  entitled  to  no  little  resped 
and  importance.  Looking-  a  little  into  the  future,  it  is  possible  that  we  shall 
\ei  navigate  the  air,  and  thus  greatly  reduce  our  consumption  of  iron,  propel 
the  ships  by  electricity,  and  do  away  with  the  problem  of  the  regulation  of 
rates.  Under  the  new  order  of  things  no  doubt,  however,  we  will  have  the 
promoter  who  will  supply  the  atmosphere  if  he  can  find  capital  to  provide 
the  ships  and  the  electrical  equipment.  On  the  other  hand,  we  bitterly  com- 
plain of  capital  and  some  almost  despair  of  organized  labor.  While  we  must 
all  agree  that  cunning  must  not  be  shackled,  most  of  us  do  agree,  and  all 
of  us  ought  to,  that  this  must  be  done  without  destroying  thrift,  and  inasmuch 
as  we  have  made  extensive  advances  in  the  direction  of  controlling  even  our 
greatest  corporations,  may  we  not  hope  that  a  higher  sense  of  civic  virtue 
and  the  application  of  better  principles  will  result  in  the  letter  and  the  more 
satisfactory  control  of  aggregations  of  capital.  Doubtless  labor  must  be 
required  to  accord  all  others,  organized  or  unorganized,  equal  rights,  but 
co-operation  must  not  be  destroyed  and  the  rights  of  men  to  organize  de- 
nied, because  when  organized  they  sometimes  undertake  to  deprive  others 
of  their  rights.  I  therefore  delight  to  turn  from  what  sometimes  seems  to 
be  the  madness  of  one  leader,  or  the  extremes  of  another,  to  a  contemplation 
of  the  truer  brotherhood  and  the  better  conditions  of  working  people  when 
organized  and  properly  led.  As  an  example:  Look  at  the  city  of  San  Fran- 
cisco. Who  would  have  been  so  bold  as  to  prophesy  on  the  21st  of  April.  1906, 
that  in  October,  1908,  the  rebuilded  city  would  have  assumed  its  present 
magnificent  proportions,  or  have  been  in  a  condition  to  entertain  a  great 
gathering  of  this  character?  Then  the  greatest  ruin  in  all  recorded  history 
is  now  soon  to  be  the  most  magnificent  commercial  center  of  any  city  in 
America,  save  only,  perhaps,  New  York. 

Looking  back  to  the  beginning  of  our  national  existence,  the  results  of 
the  intelligent  industry  of  our  people  entirely  exceed  the  imagination  of  the 
ancient  world,  and  even  the  fabled  accomplishments  of  the  cities  of  Atlantis. 
Within  the  last  century  and  a  quarter  the  labor  and  industry  of  our  own 
people  have  subjugated  more  of  the  wilderness,  transformed  it  into  houses 
and  homes,  and  farms,  and  schools  and  churches,  lias  created  and  erected 
lie. re  cities,  and  introduced  more  of  the  arts  and  sciences  into  every  day 
existence  and  labor  than  can  be  claimed  for  any  other  people  or  any  other 
government,  although  we  should  allow  them  ten  times  the  period  within 
which  to  accomplish  their  results.  The  labor  of  this  country  has  driven  it* 
relentless  way  into  the  mountains  and  extracted  the  metals,  precious  and  use- 
ful, combined  brain  and  brawn  and  developed  inventions  hitherto  undreamed 
of  and  thought  impossible.  By  the  labor  of  our  people  we  have  builded  cities 
on  a  grander  scale,  have  bound  the  country  together  with  iron  bands  of 
commerce,  obliterated  time  and  space.  We  can  hut  contemplate  the  tre- 
mendous creation,  the  tremendous  development,  the  magnificent  productions 
Of  the  industry  of  a  democratic  people  under  a  free  government;  speech  is 
impotent  to  describe  and  imagination  to  comprehend  the  results.  Well  may 
we  place  upon  the  brow  of  our  own  labor  the  laurel  wreath  of  victory  in 
achievement  over  all  other  races  and  previous  generations  of  mankind.  Dis- 
tribution has  not  been  as  equal  as  we  wish  it  had.  It  is  to  be  hoped  that 
We  can  better  the  results  in  this  direction  in  the  future.  But  after  all,  is  it 
not  undeniably  true  that  the  average  man.  including  the  man  who  has  con- 
tinued    to     earn     his     bread     by     the     sweat     of     his     face,     has     been     better     paid, 

better   housed,   better   clothed,    letter  able    to   maintain    a    family   ami   educate 

his    children,    and     to    give    himself    and    those    dependent    upon     him    some    share 

of  the  opportunities  ami  joys  of  living  than  were  ever  before  known  under 
any  other  government,  or  in  any  other  period  of  the  world's  history?  Ad- 
mitting that  we  nave  nol  yet  reached  perfection,  it  is  nevertheless  true  that 
in  the  genesis  Of  nations  the  one  nation  that  can  claim  to  have  made  some 
progress  in  the  direction  thai  all  men  are  recognized  as  being  created  free 
and  equal,  with  the  right  to  life,  liberty  and  happiness,  and  the  hope  of 
achieving  the  latter,  can  hardly  he  claimed  to  have  had  even  slight  realization 
except    ler   "in    democratic    form    of   government.      If   one   man's    rights  are 


TRAXS-MISSISSIPPI    COMMERCIAL    CONGRESS  101 

made    insecure    today,    no    man's    rights    will    be    secure    tomorrow        Ml    of    us 
need  to  protect  and  defend  our  own  rights  infinitely  more  than   we   need   to  in- 
vade or  take  away  the  rights  of  any  other  person.     We  are  all   vastly  more  in- 
terested in  the  preservation  of  constitutional  government,   with   the  unimpaired 
right   to   local    self-government,   and   the   Nation    existing    for    the   common    de- 
fense   and    the    general    welfare    than    we    are    in    the    temporary    results    thai 
could   be   achieved   by    any    fundamental    readjustment   of    our    national    life    or 
forms    of   government.      I   would   put   no   impediment    in    the    way    of    any    man 
who  seeks   to  vindicate  the   law   or  to  discover  or  punish   crime.      More  power 
to   all    those   who   are   engaged   in   this    laudable   work.      But    there    are    others. 
merely  unauthorized,  unlicensed  defamers  and  muck-rakers,  and  I  should  wel- 
come the  day  when  there  should  be  more  of  a  revival  of  the  effort  to  remove 
the    beam    from    our    own    eye,    rather    than    such    a    widespread    and    uncertain 
search    for    the    mote    that    is    supposed   to   be   concealed    in    our    brother's    eye. 
I    have    had    many    occasions    to    need    and    search    for   an    honest    man — always 
needed   and   useful   and   never   too  plentiful.     I   am   still,   however,   of   the   old- 
fashioned  idea  that  a  man   may   be  honest  and  too   modest   to  tell   about   him- 
self, and  I  am  not  much  attracted  by  the  noise  of  the  individual  who  is  from 
day  to  day  proclaiming  his  own  honesty.     Give  me  rather  the  man  who  makes 
good   and  who   gives  a  square   deal,   and   who  by  his   life   illustrates   his  devo- 
tion   to    civic    righteousness.      I    left    San    Francisco    for    Washington    the    day 
after  the  Atlantic  fleet  came  in  through   the  Golden  Gate.     When   I  arrived   in 
Washington   and   once   more   looked    up   Pennsylvania   Avenue    toward    the    east 
I    was    reminded    that    even    the    Father    of    His    Country    could    not    foreordain 
the  growth   of  its  Capital   City  any  more   than   he   could  foresee   its   great   de- 
velopment  as   a  nation.      The  Capitol  was   builded   to   face   the   east  and    fronts 
the   rising   sun;    but   the   progress   of   events  and   the   growth    of   the    city    have 
wrought  such  a  change  that  today  the  western  side  of  the  building   is  recog- 
nized as  the  front  and  we  always  hear  of  "the  west  side  of  the  Capitol."     As 
with  our  Capital  City,  so  with  our  Nation.     In  the  beginning  it  fronted  only  the 
Atlantic    Ocean,    and    I    thought    of    what    it    really    meant    when    the    Atlantic 
fleet  sailed  out   of  the  harbor  of  New  York  on  that  long  journey  to  this  port. 
I    thought   of   the   tremendous   and   portentous   power   of   that   great   armament. 
Any    one    of   those   battleships    could   have    sailed    into    the    Mediterranean    and 
destroyed   the   fleets   of   Pompeii   in   a   day   and   wiped    from    the   earth    the    then 
supreme    power    of    Rome.      Any    one    of    those    battleships    could    have    entered 
the    contests    with    the    Armada,    coupled    with    the    fleet    of   Nelson,    and    could 
have   utterly   destroyed  them  all.     Any   one  of  those  great  battleships,   if  pos- 
sessed  by    the    North    or    the    South    during   the    Civil    War,    could    have    turned 
the  scales   of  that  dreadful   cQnflict   and   caused   victory  to   have  perched   upon 
either   side.      What   a    tribute    to   the    honor,    the    industry    and    the    intelligence 
of   our  Nation!      How  perfectly   they   were   builded.   how  beautifully    they   were 
navigated,    how    majestically    they    journeyed   all    the    distance    of    the    Atlantic 
Ocean   and   through   the   Straits   of  Terra  del   Fuego   into   the   world's   greatest 
and  most  beautiful   ocean,  and  the  thought  came  to  me  as   they   came  on  and 
on,   with  never  a  loss  or  mishap,   or  a  disaster,   that  even    the  waves   love   our 
ships  on  the  sea  as  the  loyal  winds  love  the  flag  of  the  free,  and  I  thought  as 
they    came   on    into    the   Golden    Gate    that    they    were    not    coming   to    the    back 
door  of  the  Nation  to  say  good-bye,  but  up  to  the  great  western  front  door  of 
the    Nation     to    say    good-morning.       Good-morning    to    the    world's    scene    of 
future  greatest  activity;  good-morning — I  hope — to  mankind's  best  and  great- 
est  advancement;    good-morning,    I   hope,    to   long  years   of   constitutional    gov- 
ernment,   of   equal    citizenship   and   of   continued   prosperity,    and    I    trust    that 
the   members   of   this   Conference   will    return    to   their   respective    homes    ready 
to  devote   their  lives  and   their  energies  to  the   up-building  of  the   great  West, 
to    the    conservation,    protection    and    development    of    our    national    resources, 
but  above  all  for  the  preservation  of  our  equal  laws  and  equal  opportunities, 
the    heritage    that    our    fathers    bequeathed    to    us,    and    the    greatest    resource 
that    we    can    possibly    conserve    and    bequeath    to    our    children.      (Prolonged 
applause.) 

By  President  Case: 

Is  there  any  one  who  desires  to  take  the  time  for  three  minutes  to 
discuss  the  matters  involved  in  the  eloquent  address  of  Mr.  Short  and  those 
of  the  other  distinguished  gentlemen  who  have  spoken  upon  this  subject  of 
conservation  of  our  natural  resources? 

Mr.   Alfred   Chartz    (Nevada): 

I    desire,    Mr.    Chairman,    to    say    a    few   words    upon    this    subject. 

I  stand  up  for  every  word  spoken  by  Mr.  Short,  the  gentleman  who 
preceded  me  —  every  word.  President  Roosevelt  has  sent  us  word,  as  dele- 
gates  to   this   convention   and   Congress,   that   he   did   not    want   all   the   (lowers 


102  REPORT    OF    PROCEEDINGS 

ami    bouquets,    he    wanted   an   expression   of   the   public   will,   an   expression   of 
the    Ideas    of    the    delegates    from    the    several    states    and    territories    of    the 

Trans-Mississippi    Commercial    Congress.      We    have    that    message    from    our 
President,   one  of  the  greatest    we   have  ever  had. 

Mr.  Short  has  shown  to  us  not  only  flowers,  but  a  few  thistles,  and 
thistles  are  something  that  we  need.  That  was  the  spirit  of  the  message 
ot  the  President  of  the  United  states  as  sent  to  us.  So  1  stand  by  each 
and  every  one  of  the  ideas  as  expressed  by  Mr.  Short,  and  I  do  not  need  to 
say  any  more  exeept  that  Mr.  Short  has  expressed  my  views  more  clearly 
than  has  any  other  gentleman  who  has  spoken  upon  the  various  subjects 
that    have  come  before   this  Congress. 

Mr.    Arthur    R.    Briggs,   of   California: 

Mr.  Chairman,  I  desire  to  make  a  motion  with  reference  to  adjourn- 
ment— not  to  adjourn  now,  but  I  move  you,  sir,  that  when  we  adjourn  today 
we  adjourn  to  meet  at  1:30  o'clock  tomorrow  afternoon.  The  purpose  of 
the  motion,  if  I  may  be  permitted  to  say  so,  is  that  members  of  the  Congress, 
delegates  present  here  and  their  wives  and  daughters,  may  take  the  bay 
trip  which  has  been  planned  by  the  Excursion  Committee,  to  start  from 
the  ferry  at  9  o'clock  tomorrow  morning,  and  to  go  about  the  bay  tomorrow 
forenoon.     I  desire  to   make  that  motion   upon   that    account. 

(The  motion   was  duly  seconded  by  two  or  three  delegates.) 

A    Delegate: 

At   what   time   does  the   excursion  return? 

Mr.    Briggs: 

The  motion  is  that  we  convene  at  1:30  o'clock  tomorrow  afternoon. 

The    Delegate: 

But  will  the  excursion  be  back  by  that  time? 

Mr.    Briggs: 

It   will  be  back  by  1:30. 

President   Case: 

To  the  gentlemen  of  the  Congress,  I  desire  to  say  that  this  is  a  little 
unusual.  It  is  a  little  out  of  order,  perhaps,  but  I  am  going  to  put  this 
question,  and  if  I  get  an  almost  unanimous  vote,  I  am  going  to  concur  in  it. 
I  do  not  want  to  set  this  as  a  precedent  that  will  be  followed,  or  as  an 
indication  that  we  shall  ordinarily  adjourn  this  Congress  for  the  pleasures 
of  ourselves  and  families.  Probably  not  again  during  the  session  will  we 
do  it.  But  I  realize  that  our  wives  are  here,  and  a  great  many  people  who 
would  like  to  take  that  trip.  In  fact,  1  would  like  to  do  so  myself.  I  am 
going  to  submit  the  matter  to  your  vote.    Are  you  ready  for  the  question? 

A  Delegate: 

Mr.  Chairman:  1  move  as  an  amendment,  as  I  half  agree  with  you  and 
half  do  not,  to  make  the  time  at  which  we  next  meet  an  earlier  hour.  Let 
me  ask  if  two  hours  would  be  sufficient  time  in  which  to  make  the  trip 
that  has  been  tendered  us?  If  so,  my  amendment  would  be  to  the  effect 
that  we  adjourn  until   11   o'clock   tomorrow. 

Mr.   Briggs: 

Two  hours  will  not  make  it.  I  desire  it  understood  by  the  Congress 
that  this  is  not  my  own  plan,  but  that  I  make  this  suggestion  on  behalf  of 
the  Chamber  of  Commerce,  which  is  endeavoring  to  give  entertainment  to 
the  delegates  and  their  friends  while  they  are  here.  There  is  no  use  of 
their  saying,  or  of  my   saying,   thai    you   can   make  that   trip   in   two  hours, 


TRANS-MISSISSIPPI    COMMERCIAL    CONGRESS  103 

because  it  can  not  be  done.  If  we  start  at  9  o'clock  promptly,  and  that 
is  the  hour  scheduled,  from  the  Clay  Street  wharf,  we  will  get  back  at 
about  12:30  o'clock,  and  then  we  can  meet  here  at  1:30  in  the  afternoon. 

The  motion  unanimously  prevailed. 

President  Case: 

I  understand  that  this  simply  means  that  we  take  a  recess  from  the 
time  that  we  finish  our  session  this  evening  until  1:30  o'clock  tomorrow. 

Mr.   Briggs: 

The  start  will   be  made   from   the  Clay  Street  wharf,   and  any  of  the 

delegates    or    their    friends    who    want    badges,    because    that    will    be  the 

insignia  that  will  carry  them  onto  the  ship,  will  find  them  here  at  the 
Secretary's  office  before  they  leave  today. 

President  Case: 

Has  the  Secretary  anything  further  to  be  said  to  the  Congress? 

The  Secretary: 

I  think  not,  Mr.  President.     We  have  an  evening  session. 

President  Case: 

Yes.  We  promised  the  people  of  San  Francisco  last  evening  that  Hon- 
orable C.  J.  Blanchard,  the  statistician  of  the  National  Government,  would 
reproduce  in  the  evening,  upon  canvas,  the  different  projects  of  the  Govern- 
ment, including  irrigation  plants,  tunnels,  canals,  etc.,  being  projected  and 
those  that  have  been  completed.  This  will  be  shown  in  stereopticon  views 
this  evening.  It  will  be  an  education  to  everybody.  Something  of  that  same 
character  was  exhibited  last  year  by  Chief  Engineer,  Mr.  Newell,  at. 
Muskogee,  and  a  house  about  as  large  as  this  would  not  hold  the  people 
who  were  there  to  listen  to  it.  I  promise  you  that  you  will  feel  well  repaid 
for  attending. 

If  there  is  no  other  business,  the  chair  will  now  entertain  a  motion  to 
adjourn.  And  do  not  forget  the  meeting  of  the  Committee  on  Permanent 
Organization  at  the  St.  Francis  Hotel. 

On  motion,  duly  seconded,  the  Congress  at  this  point  took  a  recess  until 
8  o'clock  p.  m. 


SIXTH  SESSION 

Wednesday    Evening,   October  7,   1908. 
By  President  Case: 

Ladies  and  Gentlemen:  The  hour  of  eight  having  arrived  the  Congress 
will  be  in  order.  Mr.  Sam.  F.  Dutton,  secretary  of  the  Organization  Com- 
mittee, desires  to  make  a  report.     Mr.  Dutton,  of  Colorado. 

PERMANENT    ORGANIZATION. 

By   Mr.   Dutton,  of   Colorado: 

Mr.  President,  Members  of  the  Congress,  Ladies  and  Gentlemen:  At  a 
meeting  of  the  Committee  on  Permanent  Organization  this  afternoon,  in 
the  St.  Francis  Hotel,  we  made  a  list  of  officers  for  this  organization  and 
included  for  the  coming  year,  and  we  beg  to  submit  this  list  to  you  for 
your    approval: 

For    President,    Hon.    Thomas    F.    Walsh,    Denver,    Colorado. 

First  Vice-President,  N.   G.  Larimore,  Larimore,   North   Dakota. 

Second  Vice-President,  Chas.  A.   Fellows,  Los  Angeles,  California. 

Third    Vice-President,    A.    C.    Trumbo,    Muskogee.    Oklahoma. 

Fourth    Vice-President,    Herbert    Strain,    Great    Falls,    Montana. 

Secretary,    Arthur    F.    Francis,    Cripple    Creek,    Colorado. 

Treasurer,   Fred    Moffatt,    Denver,    Colorado. 

Suggestions   for   the   Executive   Committee  were   made   as   follows: 

For  Chairman  of  the  Executive  Committee,  Col.  Ike  T.  Pryor,  San 
Antonio,   Texas. 

Vice-Chairman  of  the  Executive  Committee,  Sam  F.  Dutton,  Denver, 
Colorado. 

Chairman  of  Advisory  Board,  Mr.  Arthur  R.  Briggs,  San  Francisco, 
California. 

Vice-Chairman,    James    H.    Brady,    Pocatello,    Idaho. 

For  Members  of  Advisory  Committee,  Mr.  W.  O.  Hart,  New  Orleans;  Mr. 
John  Henry  Smith,  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah;  and  Mr.  Tom  Richardson.  Portland. 
Oregon. 

We  also  wish  to  submit  to  the  Congress  for  their  approval  the  names  of 
a  committee  to  wait  upon  the  President-elect  of  the  United  States  im- 
mediately after  election,  and  secure  his  attendance  at  next  year's  meeting; 
and   we    suggest   the   following   names    to   serve   on    that   committee: 

The  President  of  the  Organization,  the  retiring  President,  the  Chairman 
of  the  Executive  Committee,  the  Chairman  of  the  Congressional  Committee, 
the  Chairman  of  the  Advisory  Board,  and  Hon.  John  Barrett,  of  Portland, 
Oregon. 

By  President  Case: 

You  have  heard  the  report,  gentlemen.  Is  there  anything  to  be  said 
on  the  report  of  the  Committee  on  Permanent  Organization? 

By  Mr.  N.  D.  Crane: 

I  move  that  the  report  be  accepted  and  be  made  special  order  for  10 
o'clock  a.  m.  the  last  day  of  the  session  as  provided  by  the  by-laws. 

A    Delegate: 

I    second   the   motion. 

The  motion  was  put  to   the   Congress  and  adopted. 

By  President  Case: 

Ladies  and  Gentlemen,  and  Members  of  the  Congress:  We  will  listen 
to  an  address  this  evening  by  Colonel  \Y.  I<\  Baker,  of  Iowa.  The  state  of 
Iowa  is  largely  indebted  to  Colonel  Baker  for  its  splendid  system  of  good 
roads.  Mr.  Baker  has  been  connected  with  this  Congress  for  many  years. 
He  takes  a  strong  interest  in  the  organization  and  is  one  of  the  general 
vice-presidents.  He  will  speak  to  you  tonight  for  a  short  time  on  "Inland 
Waterways."  I  have  the  pleasure  and  the  honor  to  introduce  to  you  Colonel 
\V.  F.  Baker,  of  Iowa.     (Applause.) 


COL.  \v.  p.  BAKER,  l>e.s  Moines,  Iowa. 
Third  Vice-President. 


TRANS-MISSISSIPPI    COMMERCIAL    CONGRESS  105 

'•INLAND    WATERWAYS,"    BY    COL.    W.    F.    BAKER,    OF     IOW  \. 

By   Mr.  Baker,   of  Council    IS  I  tills: 

Mr.  President,  Members  of  the  Trans-Mississippi  Commercial  Congress. 
Ladies   and    Gentlemen: 

The  subject  of  our  inland  waterways  and  their  Improvement  for  com- 
mercial purposes  is  of  national  importance,  as  there  is  no  locality  in  the 
United  States  that  is  not  vitally  interested  in  it.  We  do  not  believe  however 
that  the  people,  as  a  general  thing-,  realize  the  benefits  that  would  come 
to  them  through  the  improvement  of  our  great  rivers  for  commercial  pur- 
poses, nor  do  we  believe  they  realize  the  great  necessity  for  this  Con- 
sequently, they  should  learn  as  soon  as  possible  the  true  situation  and 
when  they  do  so,  rest  assured  the  remedy  will  be  forthcoming  and  effectual. 

The  canals  now  used  at  the  present  time  throughout  the  world  as  a 
general  thing,  are  of  comparatively  modern  construction,  and  when    I   mention 

canals,    I    include    rivers    that    have    been    canalized.      In    fact,    there    has    1 n 

more  accomplished  in  the  last  25  years  in  this  direction  than  In  all  previous 
history. 

In  order  to  better  understand  my  subject,  it  will  be  necessary  for  me  to 
mention  what  others  have  done  and  are  doing,  in  order  to  understand  what 
we  will  be  compelled  to  do  to  meet  the  situation  that  is  unavoidable  in  the 
near  future — a  battle,  not  with  battleships,  but  with  the  exercise  of  out- 
best    judgment,    ingenuity    and    perseverance. 

The  Chinese,  ages  ago,  constructed  an  admirable  system  of  rather  shallow 
canals  reaching  from  the  sea  to  every  'part  of  that*  vast  empire,  which  is 
one-sixth  larger  than  the  United  States,  with  400,000,000  of  people.  This 
accessibility  by  water  has  prevented,  no  doubt,  the  depopulation  of  vast 
territories  in  that  empire  from  famine  and  other  causes.  They  nave  lately 
improved  the  Shanghai  River  for  more  than  500  miles  to  its  junction  with 
the  Yangtse,  which  they  have  improved  for  700  miles,  up  to  where  there 
are  immense  iron  and  coal  mines.  They  are  now  manufacturing  pig  iron, 
supplying  Japan  with  5,000  tons  per  month,  and  are  shipping  some  to  this 
coast,  in  fact,  to  San  Francisco  itself,  as  the  steamer  "Seneca"  was  loaded 
three  months  ago  with  3,000  tons  of  pig-iron,  and  consigned  to  a  steel  com- 
pany in  this  locality.  They  have  immense  steel  mills  in  proximity  to  their 
mines,  where  they  are  manufacturing  steel  rails  at  the  rate  of  from  5.000 
to  8,000  tons  per  month,  of  a  much  superior  quality  than  can  be  found  in 
Europe.  They  are  prepared  to  make  steel  passenger  coaches,  steel  freight 
cars,  steel  bridges  and  locomotive  engines,  in  fact,  everything  that  goes  to 
make  a  first-class  railroad.  Their  steam  power  amounts  to  17,500  actual 
horsepower,  and  their  electric  plant  of  5,000  horsepower.  It  is  owned  en- 
tirely by  the  Chinese,  as  no  one  is  allowed  to  invest  with  foreign  capital. 

It  is  conducted  and  managed  by  Chinese  who  have  been  educated  in 
the  United  States  and  in  Europe.  The  above  rivers  for  1,200  miles  have  a 
capacity  for  the  largest  of  ocean  going  vessels,  and  with  the  cheap  labor 
they  have  in  that  country,  no  one  can  compete  with  them  for  this  com- 
modity  in   the   Orient. 

Japan  has  been  specially  favored  by  Nature,  as  the  sea  reaches  into  all 
parts  of  that  empire  and  very  few  artificial  canals  are  required.  This  has 
enabled  Japan   to   suddenly   assume  an   aggressive  world-powership. 

Russia  has  a  splendid  system  of  canals  through  her  European  posses- 
sions, connecting  her  great  seas  and  gulfs  with  all  her  large  cities,  including 
St.  Petersburg  and  Moscow,  with  the  Baltic  and  White  Seas.  But  what  is 
of  more  interest  to  us  and  our  agriculturists  especially,  as  the  Russians 
are  not  a  manufacturing  people,  is  the  ship  channel  they  are  now  building 
over  the  low  Ural  Mountains,  connecting  with  the  great  Obi  River  that 
reaches  for  3,000  miles  into  the  heart  of  the  Siberian  wheat  helds.  a  vast 
area  of  country  that  is  as  well  adapted  to  the  raising  ot  wheat  and  other 
cereals  as  our  great  Northwest,  as  it  is  in  the  same  latitude  as  the  Dakotas 
and  Montana.  We  can  realize  what  this  means  when  we  remember  tin- 
cheapness  of  land  in  that  territory,  compared  to  ours,  and  the  Labor  (or  the 
production  of  their  wheat  costing  not  more  than  a  quarter  of  what  we  are 
compelled   to  pay. 

A  ship  can  be  loaded  with  wheat,  sail  down  the  Obi  River  across  the 
Ural  Mountains,  connecting  with  canals  already  completed  through  the  l.altn- 
and    North    Seas    to    Liverpool,    in    competition    with    our    wheat,    at    a    cost   in 

transportation   of  comparatively  a  few  cents  per  ton,   while    we   are   coi died 

to  pay  several  dollars  per  ton  before  we  reach  water  transportation.  would 

not  lower  the  price  of  labor  in  this  country,  God  forbid,  but  I  would  create 
a   condition   that   will   immensely   aid  production    and   labor   as    well. 

We  have  always  supposed  that  the  Spanish-Americans  would  be  too 
lazv  and  indolent  ever  to  aspire  to  command  of  the  world  s i  markets,  but  we 
find  in  the  Argentine  Republic  that  they  have  improved  the  Parana  River 
?o  more  than  iToOO  miles  into  the  interior  of  that  fertile  country,  o  a  depth 
of  21  feet,  and  the  Uruguay  River  for  more  than  600  miles   to   the  same  depth. 


106  REPORT    OF    PROCEEDINGS 

and    in   the    harbor    of    Ftosario,    100    miles   from    the    sea,    they    have    expended 

more    than    $15.oon. They    can    raise    in    that    country    all    the    crops    that 

we  can  raise,  as  it  is  about  between  the  same  parallels  as  the  United  States, 
and  Rosario  is  in  the  same  latitude  south  of  the  Equator  that  Cairo  is  north 
of  it.  They  have  cheap  land,  cheap  labor  and  cheap  transportation  to  the 
markets    of    the    world. 

Belgium,  just  one-fourteenth  the  size  of  the  state  of  California,  has  1,400 
miles  of  splendid  canals  and  in  the  harbor  of  Antwerp,  30  miles  from  the  sea. 
they  can  accommodate  2,000  ocean  going  vessels  at  her  docks  at  the  same  time. 
Their  canals  reach  every  city  and  manufacturing-  center  within  that  midget 
kingdom,  and  they  can  bring  the  raw  material  to  their  manufactories,  1,000 
miles  for  $1.00  or  less  per  ton.  The  manufactures  of  Belgium  last  year 
amounted    to    more    than    $500,000,000. 

Holland  is  but  one-thirteenth  the  size  of  the  state  of  California  and  they 
have  2,000  miles  of  the  best  canals  in  the  world  and  have  expended  upon  these 
canals  more  than  $2,O00,0Oii.<hhi,  more  than  four  times  what  the  United  States 
has  expended  for  this  purpose  in  all  her  history.  Like  Belgium,  her  canals 
reach  every  port  in  the  kingdom.  Of  their  soil,  about  one-third  is  of  compara- 
tively good  quality  but  cannot  compare  to  ours  in  fertility,  the  balance  is  low 
and  exceedingly  poor,  yet  they  are  the  wealthiest  kingdom  of  their  size  in  the 
world  today.  We  find  much  of  the  Dutch  money  invested  in  our  street 
railways   and    their   improvement    in    this   country. 

Germany,  which  is  32  per  cent  larger  than  the  state  of  California,  has 
10,000  miles  of  canals,  and  they  have  actually  excavated  through  the  earth 
more  than  3,000  miles  of  them.  It  is  impossible  to  ascertain  the  amount 
expended,  but  it  would  reach  into  the  billions;  but  the  canals  reach  all  their 
cities  and  manufactories  of  importance.  Germany  today  claims  the  com- 
mercial   supremacy    for    manufactures    for    export    of    the    world. 

France,  but  30  per  cent  larger  than  the  state  of  California,  has  8,000 
miles  of  canals  and,  like  Germany,  utilizes  all  her  waterways  that  will  tioat 
any  kind  of  a  vessel.  She  has  spent  $250,000,00(1  on  4,000  miles  of  canals 
in  the  past  few  years,  and  they  now  have  plans  for  deepening  the  channel 
from  the  sea  to  Paris,  so  as  to  admit  the  largest  vessels  that  float  the  seas, 
which  would  require  a  depth  of  45  feet.  The  26,000-ton  battleships  now  being 
built   all    over   the   world    draw    42    feet   of   water. 

The  British  Islands,  England,  Wales,  Scotland  and  Ireland  combined, 
are  20  per  cent  less  in  size  than  the  state  of  California,  yet  they  have  8,000 
miles  of  canals.  They  had  constructed  4.000  miles  of  canals  LOO  years  ago, 
but  of  rather  poor  quality.  They  suddenly  stopped  building  canals  and  went 
to  building  railroads,  the  same  as  we  have  been  doing.  Her  people,  seeing 
the  advantage  gained  through  waterway  transportation  by  Germany  and 
France,  demanded  the  improvement  of  the  waterways,  and  in  the  last  few- 
years  they  have  expended  in  the  harbors  of  Newcastle.  Liverpool,  Glasgow 
and  Manchester,  more  than  $375,000,000,  and  in  the  ship  canal  from  the  sea 
to  Manchester,  a  distance  of  35  miles,  they  have  spent  more  than  $80,000,000 
additional,  and  at  the  present  time  they  are  energetically  improving  their 
waterways. 

Central  Europe,  with  an  area  of  SOO.000  square  miles,  less  than  two-thirds 
of  the  Mississippi  Valley,  has  spent  billions  upon  her  canals  in  the  last  25 
years,  and  they  are  claiming  that  they  are  bringing  the  markets  to  every 
man's  door. 

They  were  hampered  somewhat  in  their  canal  improvements  by  a  system 
of  tolls  exacted  for  tonnage  through  their  canals,  and  each  kingdom  or 
country  exacted  different  tolls  which  made  transportation  very  difficult  at 
certain  times  and  places,  but  these  tolls  were  Anally  abolished  in  1868,  so 
that  the  canals  at  this  time  are  absolutely  free  for  navigation   by  any   person. 

There  is  a  little  story  told  about  a  giant  that  lived  on  the  banks  of  the 
Scheltz,  between  Antwerp  and  the  sea.  who  exacted  a  toll  for  every  ton  that 
passed  up  or  down  the  river  in  front  of  his  castle,  and  if  the  owner  failed  to 
pay  the  toll  promptly,  he  had  to  suffer  the  loss  of  his  right  arm,  if 
caught.  This  in  time  became  unbearable,  and  a  warrior  of  Antwerp,  by  the 
name  of  Brabo,  assaulted  the  castle  of  the  giant,  capturing  and  killing  him 
and  severing  his  right  arm  which  he  cast  into  the  river,  thus  imposing  the 
same   punishment    upon    him    that    he    had    upon    the    merchants    who    failed    to 

pay     What     he    demanded.       The    people    of    Belgium    believe    this    to    this    daw    and 

there  is  a  tine  monument  erected  in  the  streets  of  Antwerp  representing 
Brabo  in  the  act  of  casting  into  the  river  the  right  arm  severed  from  the 
giant    lying   at    his    feet. 

Railroads  run  upon  both  hanks  of  the  Danube,  the  Rhone,  the  Rhine  and 
the  Seine,  and  all  work  in  perfect  harmony  with  the  waterways.  There  is 
a  perfect  division  of  freight.  Through  freight  trains  are  light  and  make  as 
good  time  as  passenger  trains,  and  you.  here  in  San  Francisco;  would  as  soon 
think  of  loading  your  iron  and  coal,  sand  and  brick  upon  your  ponies  that 
you  have  for  delivering  trunks,  hand  boxes  and  Easter  hats,  as  they  would 
in     Central     Europe     of     loading     those     heavy     things     on     freight     trains.       The 


TRAXS-MISSISSIPPI    COMMERCIAL    CONGRESS  107 


14    per    cent    of    their    revenues    therefrom  eqUlpment   and   had  derived   but 


-.lerefrom. 
Canada,    with    less    than 


the    Georgian    Bay    in    the    northern    extremity    of 


Rainy  River,  Rainy  Lake,  and  Lake  of  the  Woods,  to  Winnipeg  in  Manitoba 
TWs  is  deep  water  nearly  all  the  way.  This  requires  some  dams  and  locks' 
but  the  Canadians  do  not  stand  for  expense  when  thev  know  they  will  be 
fully  compensated  for  all  expenditure  in  a  comparatively 'short  time  Thev  are 
also  constructing  a  ship  channel  from  Winnipeg,  through  Lake' Winnipeg 
which  is  as  large  as  Lake  Erie,  Nelson  River  to  Hudson  Bay.  This  mav 
be  considered  a  round  about  route,  but  it  is  no  farther  from'  Winnipeg  to 
Hudson  Bay  and  Hudson  Straits  to  Liverpool,  than  it  is  from  Detroil  to 
Liverpool  by  the  way  of  the  Welland  and  Erie  Canals.  Thev  have  also 
constructed  a  canal  from  Winnipeg  into  the  wheat  country  in  one  direction 
more  than  1,000  miles  and  in  another  direction  more  than  500  miles  and 
they   claim   to   have   the  largest   railroad   yard   in   the  world. 

Why    all    this    energy   and    immense   expenditure    of   money  ? 

Some  time  ago  Chicago  claimed  to  be  the  largest  grain  market  in  the 
world.  A  little  later,  Minneapolis  claimed  this  proud  distinction;  a  few 
years  later  still  and  Duluth  claimed  it.  and  now  Winnipeg,  a  place  not  ex- 
ceeding 80,000  population,  handles  as  much  grain  as  Duluth  and  West 
Superior  combined,  and  you  can  add  20  per  cent  to  that.  Consequently,  it 
is   much    the    largest    grain    market    in    the    world    today. 

Canadian  statesmen  have  for  years  past  claimed  that  the  time  was 
coming  when  Montreal,  a  place  of  217,000  population,  would  wrest  the  com- 
mercial supremacy  of  the  Atlantic  from  New  York,  and  our  own  statesmen 
in  Congress,  within  the  past  two  years  have  admitted  the  possibility  unless 
our  Government  aroused  itself  to  the  importance  of  the  improvement  of 
our    waterways. 

The  Chambers  of  Commerce  of  New  York  City  within  the  past  two 
months  have  passed  a  resolution  censuring  the  Pennsylvania  and  New  York 
railroads  for  allowing  grain  to  be  exported  by  way  of  Montreal,  and  the 
railroads  replied  that  they  were  powerless  to  prevent  it,  as  the  shipper 
saved   at   least    1    cents   per   bushel   by   so   doing. 

A  ship  of  12,000  tons,  which  would  be  400  freight  ears  of  30  tons  each, 
loaded  at  Chicago  or  Duluth  today  and  sailing  by  way  of  the  Georgian  Canal 
to  Liverpool  without  breaking  bulk  can  save  over  300  miles  over  the  Brie 
Canal  route.  The  same  vessel  would  be  compelled  to  break  bulk  at  Buffalo, 
even  after  the  improving  of  the  Erie  Canal  to  12  feet  as  proposed,  consign 
her  cargo  to  barges  and  re-consign  it  to  an  ocean  vessel  at  New  York.  There 
is  no  possible  prospect  of  this  condition  changing  unless  the  Lakes  to  the 
Gulf  channel  is  completed,  and  when  it  is.  with  other  improvements  that  will 
be  made  meanwhile,  the  commercial  supremacy  claimed  by  New  York  will 
be  lost  to  her  forever.  The  market  for  our  manufactured  product  will  be 
south  and  west  instead  of  east.  Our  farm  products  should  find  a  market 
all  within  our  own  borders,  but  if  not.  it  will  find  a  market  in  the  same 
direction.  It  will  be  no  farther  from  Chicago  or  Sioux  City  to  the  Panama 
Canal    than    it   is   from   New    Y'ork.   and    with   a   much    safer    passage 

The   United    States    had   a   product    last    year    from    the    manufactories,    the 

farms,    and    the    mines    amounting    to    $25.000.000. and    bear    In    mind    thai 

almost    75    per    cent    of    this   product    is    to    be    transported    from    the    state    in 
which    it    is    produced    to    other    states,    many    of    them    remote,    or    to    be 
ported    from    the    country.  ,. 

It  is  the  ambition  of  all  industrial  people  to  feed,  clothe  and  house  all 
the   people    on    the    earth   that    they   can,    where    there    is   a   prospect    of   a    fair 


108  REPORT    OF    PROCEEDINGS 

compensation  for  so  doing-,  but  bear  in  mind  that  the  cost  of  production  does 
not  cease  until  you  overtake  the  consumer,  as  the  cost  of  transportation 
is  a  part  of  production   and   cannot  be  disconnected   from   it. 

The  wealth  of  the  United  States  at  the  present  time  is  estimated  at 
$110,000,000,000,  and  what  is  more  remarkable  is  we  have  accumulated  all 
but  16  billions  of  it  in  the  past  50  years,  while  Great  Britain,  to  accumulate 
60  billions,  has  taken  more  than  500  years.  We  have  a  quarter  of  all  the 
wealth  of  the  world  and  the  value  of  our  manufactures  amounts  to  one- 
third  of  all  the  manufactures  of  the  world.  We  have  more  wealth  than 
France  and  Germain-  combined  and  more  than  Great  Britain  and  all  her 
colonies.  Our  markets  are  worth  all  the  rest  of  the  world,  and  we  consume 
of  many  commodities,   more   than   all   the   rest   of  the  world. 

Now,  in  Heaven's  name,  are  we  so  poor  as  to  be  unable  to  improve  our 
waterways   as    other   nations   are    doing-  ? 

The  English  statesman,  Bacon,  once  said  that  it  takes  three  things 
to  make  a  nation  great  and  prosperous:  First,  fertile  soil;  second,  busy 
factories;  third,  an  easy  and  cheap  mode  of  transportation  for  commodities 
and  people   from    one   place   to  another. 

We  certainly  have  the  first  without  compare,  and  there  is  no  reason 
why  we  should  not  have  the  second  without  compare,  and  that  would  certainly 
insure  the  third. 

E.  H.  Harriman.  the  great  railroad  promoter,  builder  and  operator, 
probably  one  of  the  best  posted  men  on  this  subject  in  the  United  States. 
if  not  in  the  world,  today,  stated  to  us  one  year  ago  last  November  that 
the  products  of  this  country  requiring  transportation  by  railroads  have  in- 
creased in  the  last  seven  years  100  per  cent,  and  the  facilities  of  the  rail- 
roads for  transporting  this  product  have  increased  less  than  one-fifth  as  fast, 
and  he  says:  "As  I  stand  here,  with  all  the  facilities  the  railroads  have, 
we  can  handle  but  60  per  cent  of  this  product  and  40  per  cent  is  absolutely 
congested  at  the  present  time,  that  we  are  unable  to  move.  There  is  no 
reason  to  suppose,"  he  says,  "that  this  product  will  not  increase  in  the 
future  as  in  the  past.  Many  people  ask  us  why  we  do  not  increase  the 
capacity  of  our  engines  and  cars.  We  reply  that  we  have  already  increased 
them  beyond  the  danger  limit.  The  center  of  gravity  of  our  engines  at  the 
present  day  is  so  far  above  the  track  that  they  are  liable  to  topple  over 
around  the  slightest  curvature,  and  our  track  should  be  six  feet  between  the 
rails  instead  of  4  feet,  6%  inches  as  at  the  present  time,  but  it  will  take  bil- 
lions of  dollars  to  make  this  change."  He  further  says:  "Gentlemen,  what, 
in  Heaven's  name,  are  vou  going  to  do  ?  There  is  but  one  of  two  things 
that  you  can  do.  You  can  be  either  compelled  to  reduce  your  production, 
or  improve  your  rivers  for  transportation  purposes,  and  any  man  who  says 
that  the  railroads  are  opposed  to  this  improvement  does  not  know  what  he 
is  talking  about.  It  will  be  an  absolute  advantage  to  the  railroads  instead  of  an 
Injury." 

James  J.  Hill,  the  great  railroad  builder  and  operator,  and  one  equally 
as  well  posted  as  Mr.  Harriman  on  this  subject,  says:  "The  product  of  this 
country  requiring  transportation  by  railroad,  has  increased  in  the  last  10 
years,  126  per  cent,  and  the  railroads  for  transporting  this  product  have 
increased  less  than  22  per  cent,"  practically  agreeing  with  Mr.  Harriman, 
and  that  to  bring  the  railroads  to  present  requirements  would  take  $5,000.- 
000,000,  a  sum  that  the  railroads  are  absolutely  unable  to  control  for  this 
purpose.  These  sayings  were  made  in  normal  financial  and  industrial  condi- 
tions, to   which    we   are   now    rapidly   and    happily   returning. 

The  Mississippi  Valley  has  20,000  miles  of  navigable  rivers  or  those  that 
can  easily  be  made  navigable,  and  I  ask  your  indulgence  to  read  a  short  ex- 
tract from  a  message  sent  to  Congress  a  few  months  ago  by  the  President 
of  the  United  States,  transmitting  to  that  body  the  report  of  an  expert 
committee  authorized  by  Congress  and  appointed  by  the  President,  to  report 
upon  the  practicability  and  feasibility  of  the  improvement  of  our  rivers  Cor 
navigable  pin-puses.  He  says:  "Our  river  systems  are  better  adapted  to  our 
needs  than  those  of  any  other  country.  Tn  extent,  distribution,  navigability, 
and  ease  of  use,  they  stand  first.  Yet  the  rivers  of  no  other  civilized  country 
are  so  poorly  developed,  are  so  little  used  or  play  so  small  a  part  in  the 
industrial  life  of  the  nation  as  those  of  the  United  States.  In  view  of  the 
use  of  rivers  elsewhere,  the  failure  to  use  our  own  is  astonishing  and  no 
thoughtful  man  can  believe  that  it  will  last.  The  accompanying  report 
indicates  clearly  the  reason  for  it  and   the  way   to  end   it." 

The  United  States.  tO'O  years  ago.  bad  about  4,000  miles  of  canals,  and 
more  than  half  the  mileage  is  abandoned  at  the  present  time.  We  quit 
building  canals,  and  wenl  feverishly  to  building  railroads,  as  did  England. 
The  United  States  has  expended  for  Improvements  of  our  rivers  and  harbors 
in  all  our  history,  colonial  period  included,  less  than  $65,000,000.  This 
expenditure  has  been  under  no  regular  system,  excepting  in  the  lower  Mis- 
sissippi, some  few  of  our  harbors  and  in  the  Great  Lakes.  We  have  spent 
in    all     in     the    Great    Lakes    about    $71,000,000.       Has     this    expenditure    been 


TRANS-MISSISSIPPI    COMMERCIAL    CONGRESS  109 

judicious,  and  has  the  result  of  this  expenditure  been  such  as  to  justify 
encourage  and  absolutely  demand  a  very  much  larger  expenditure  for  a 
similar  purpose  in  other  directions?  The  tonnage  upon  the  Greal  Lakes 
in  1907  amounted  to  about  100,000,000  tons  and  had  an  average  cost  of 
eighty-four  one-hundredths,  or  one  mill  per  ton  per  mil,',  and  the  average 
cost  over  the  railroads  of  the  United  States  for  the  sain,-  year  averaged 
7  mills,  or  forty-eight  one-hundredths  per  ton  per  mile,  or  nine  times 
much.     What  does   this  mean   to   the  people  of  this  country? 

It    means    an    absolute    saving    of    $300,000,000    in    one    year more    than 

four  times  every  dollar  expended  in  the  Great  Lakes.  There  were  16  000  000 
of  people  rode  upon  the  Great  Lakes  last  year  at  an  average  cost  of  iess 
than  one-half  cent  per  mile,  and  a  larger  portion  of  this  was  made  possible 
by    the    expenditure    of    the    $71,000,000    mentioned. 

To  give  a  practical  idea  of  this  immense  tonnage,  suppose  we  load  it 
upon  a  freight  train.  Now  imagine  yourself  standing  upon  the  streets  of  San 
Francisco  by  the  side  of  a  locomotive  engine,  noting  the  train  crew  couple 
on  cars  .loaded  with  40  tons  of  this  freight  each,  and  30  tons  is  the  a 
of  the  freight  loads  of  the  United  States.  They  would  couple  on  cars  out 
through  the  Golden  Gate  to  the  Hawaiian  Islands,  across  Guam,  over  the 
Philippines,  across  the  Chinese  Empire,  across  Turkestan,  Persia,  the  Mediter- 
ranean Sea,  the  Atlantic  Ocean  to  New  York,  out  over  the  Alleghany 
Mountains,  across  the  great  central  West,  over  the  Rocky  Mountains  and 
down  the  magnificent  slope  to  your  city  again,  out  through  the  Golden  Gate 
a  second  time,  and  you  could  locate  your  caboose  at  Honolulu,  2,000  miles 
distant. 

Perhaps  you  would  like  to  stand  upon  the  street  and  see  this  train  pass 
by  and  count  the  cars,  the  train  running  20  miles  per  hour  instead  of  one 
mile  per  hour  as  at  the  present  time.  You  would  have  to  stand  upon  the 
street  40  days  and  40  nights,  counting  2,500,000  cars  before  your  caboose 
would  come  in  sight.  Of  what  does  this  train  consist;  14,000,000  tons  of 
coal,  41,000.000  tons  of  iron  ore,  110,600,000  bushels  of  grain.  200,000  tons  of 
flour,  15,000,000  bushels  of  flax  seed,  and  more  than  1,000,000,000  feet  of  lum- 
ber, and  this  commodity  is  of  the  kind  not  desirable  by  the  railroad  when 
they  can  do  without  it.  There  are  800  great  vessels  engaged  in  the  iron 
ore  trade  alone,  and  their  tonnage  would  give  every  man,  woman  anil  child, 
white  or  black,  civilized  or  savage,  on  the  face  of  the  earth,  40  pounds  each, 
and  this  commodity  and  the  demand  for  it  increases  100  per  cent  every 
six   vears. 

Coal  from  Ashtabula,  Ohio,  to  Duluth,  by  water,  more  than  1,000  miles, 
costs  30  cents  per  ton;  wheat  from  Eureka,  South  Dakota,  to  Chicago,  by  rail, 
$4.70  per  ton;  Chicago  to  Buffalo,  by  water,  175  miles  for  41  cents  per  ton. 
From  Pittsburg,  by  the  Ohio  River  to  Cairo  there  is  a  little  less  than  6  feet  at 
low  water,  and  they  now  have  asked  an  appropriation  of  Congress  of  $63,000.- 
000  to  deepen  it  to  9  feet.  They  have  some  locks  and  dams  upon  that  river 
to  bother  navigation,  but  at  the  present  time  they  are  transporting  iron  and 
coal  from  Pittsburg  to  New  Orleans,  more  than  1,000  miles  for  67  cents  per 
ton,  and  deliver  the  barges  back  at  Pittsburg  within  the  contract.  I 
are  now  building  a  canal  from  Ashtabula,  on  the  lower  Erie,  to  Pittsburg 
that  will  have  a  capacity  of  15  railroads  at  the  cost  of  one.  The  Erie  Canal 
is  442  miles  long  and  at  the  present  time  is  7  feet  deep,  and  the  state  of 
New  York  has  appropriated  $101,000,000  to  deepen  it  to  12  feet.  With  this 
completed,  it  is  estimated  that  they  can  transport  commodities  by  water 
1,900   miles  for  $1.00  per  ton. 

While  the  average  cost  for  a  ton  of  freight  over  the  United  States  by  rail 
is  $1.00  for  every  133  miles,  the  New  York  canals  last  year  carried  one-quarter 
of  the  forest  products  worth  on  an  average  $11.00  per  ton;  one-quarter  of 
the  farm  products  worth  on  an  average  $38.00  per  ton;  almost  half  of  the 
products  of  coal  and  iron,  etc.,  worth  but  a  few  dollars  per  ton,  and  but  a 
fraction    of   one   per   cent   of   commodities   worth    $300    per   ton. 

You  realize  that  there  are  many  tons  of  products  arriving  in  San 
Francisco  every  day  worth  $1,000  or  even  more  per  ton.  Remember  that  a  ton 
of  sand  or  coal  costs  as  much  to  transport  as  a  ton  of  coffee,  spice,  drugs 
or  silks  that  can  stand  many  times  the  freight  charges.  The  railroads  in 
this  country  that  parallel  the  waterways  are  among  the  most  flourishing 
that  we  have-  The  Pennsylvania  and  New  York  Central  with  the  Lakes  and 
the  Erie  Canal;  the  New  England  Railroad  with  long  Island  Sound; 
Illinois  Central  with  the  Mississippi  River;  the 
the   ocean. 


banks  were  not  doing  business  and  the  railroads  were  not  paying  expenses. 
Her  people  demanded  a  change.  Consequently  the  Ship  Canal  iron,  the  sea 
to    Manchester    was    built,    as    before    stated,    and    within    a    month    from    that 


110  REPORT    OP    PROCEEDINGS 

time  everything  had  changed.  Factories  had  started  up,  manufacturers 
commenced  with  full  time,  her  payroll  was  complete,  and  her  people  began 
to  do  husiness  and  to  ride  upon  the  railroads.  It  developed  hitherto  un- 
developed  resources,  and  everything  has  been  in  a  flourishing  condition  since. 

The  Lakes-to-the-Gulf  Channel  has  been  built  38  miles,  to  Joliet.  to  a 
depth  of  25  feet,  costing  $55, 000,000  and  it  is  estimated  that  to  complete  it 
to  the  Mississippi  River  will  cost  $110,000,000  additional.  The  locks  at 
Joliet  are  to  be  960  feet  in  length,  having  a  full  capacity  for  an  ocean  going 
vessel  of  from  12,ihiii  to  15.000  tons.  The  power  created  by  the  fall  from  the 
canal  into  the  Illinois  River  is  estimated  to  be  worth  every  dollar  thus  far 
expended  in  a  very  few  years.  This,  when  complete,  will  have  a  capacity  of 
more  than  20  times  every  railroad  running  north  and  south  upon  this  con- 
tinent, and  will  make  the  traffic  upon  the  Mississippi  River  more  than  twice 
that    upon    any    river   in    the   world. 

The  Mississippi  River  below  Red  River  has  a  capacity  for  ocean  vessels 
at  the  present  time  and  from  the  Red  River  to  the  mouth  of  the  Illinois 
River    will    be   a    part    of    the    Lakes-to-the-Gulf    Channel. 

The  Mississippi  River  above  its  junction  with  the  Missouri  River  for  658 
miles  to  St.  Paul  has  less  than  three  feet  of  water  at  low  water,  and  they 
have  now  asked  an  appropriation  of  Congress  to  deepen  it  to  five  feet.  The 
looks  at  Keokuk  at  the  present  time  are  but  five  feet.  You  will  pardon  me 
if    I    mention    the    Missouri     River,    as    1    live    upon    its    banks.      The    Missouri 

River   has   1 n   more   misunderstood  and   misrepresented   than   any   other   river 

on  earth,  but  had  De  Soto  been  buried  in  the  waters  of  the  Missouri  River 
instead  of  the  Mississippi,  it  would  have  been  the  Mississippi  no  doubt,  as  it  is 
the  main  channel.  Prom  the  three  forks  (?)  northwest  to  the  Yellowstone 
1'aik.    to    St.     Louis    is    2,547    miles,    and    to    the    Gulf    3.825    miles.       It    drains 

580,1 square    miles,    or    one-sixth    of   the    land   surface    of    the    United    States. 

Its  minimum  discharge  into  the  Mississippi  River  is  94,000  cubic  feet  per 
second,   more   than    twice   that   of  the   upper   Mississippi. 

It  has  been  claimed  that  the  Missouri  River  creates  the  great  floods  on  the 
lower  Mississippi,  but  this  is  now  acknowledged  to  be  a  mistake,  as  there 
have  been  floods  on  the  Ohio  River  within  the  past  five  years;  thjat  have 
caused  more  than  $100,000,000  damage,  and  no  such  damage  can  be  laid  to 
the   Missouri    River. 

It  is  estimated  by  engineers  in  this  country  as  well  as  in  Europe,  that 
the  channel  of  the  Missouri  River  from  St.  Louis  to  Sioux  City,  S00  miles,  can 
be  improved  to  twelve  feet  at  a  cost  not  exceeding  $50,000  per  mile,  or  about 
the  cost  of  one  single-track  first-class  railroad  for  the  same  distance.  Some 
claim  that  the  Missouri  River  is  too  swift  for  navigation,  but  it  is  not 
mote  rapid  than  the  Danube,  which  has  more  traffic  upon  its  surface  at  the 
present  time  than  any  other  river  in  the  world.  Wherever  there  is  a  high 
bank  upon  the  Missouri  River,  the  current  adheres  parallel  to  it  and  has 
never  changed,  and  stretches  of  the  Missouri  River  that  were  improved  forty 
years  ago,  r.  S.  engineers  state,  are  in  better  condition  at  t lie  present  time 
than  when  the  improvement   was  made. 

The  great  coal  fields  in  the  western  Dakotas,  southern  Montana  and 
Wyoming,  estimated  to  be  the  largest  in  the  United  States,  if  not  in  the  world. 
with  pure  coal,  estimated  to  have  strength  for  power  purposes  more  than  2V2 
lines  the  coal  of  Pennsylvania,  can  he  delivered  to  the  cities  along  the  banks 
of  the  Missouri  when  it  is  improved,  for  $1.00  or  less  per  ton.  Cities  along  its 
banks  (or  800  miles  should  be  veritable  seaports,  and  let  me  say  now  that 
no  manufacturer  that  requires  heavy  raw  material  or  a  manufactured  product 
of  a  heavy  nature,  will  be  able  to  exist  in  twenty  years  from  now-  without 
i  he  advantage  of  water  transportation. 

All  admit  the  wisdom  of  the  Creator  in  ordering  our  surroundings  so  as 
to  .all  tor  Miit-  host  thought  and  effort  to  utilize  and  perfect  them.  In  con- 
quering these  obstacles  to  our  progress  and  fitting  them  to  the  use  of  our 
people  is  what  has  made  our  people  and  Nation  great  and  prosperous,  and 
the  more  they  have  cost  us,  the  more  we  appreciate  and  prize  them.  We  all 
recognize  the  beneficial  effect  and  influence  upon  us  as  a  people  and  Nation 
of  the  great  Civil  War.  notwithstanding  it  cost  the  North  and  the  South 
more  than  $5.(1(10,000,000  of  treasure  and  more  than  500,000  of  our  best  man- 
hood. We  can  hardly  realize  this  beneficial  influence  when  we  reflect  upon  the 
thousands  of  homes  made  desolate  and  the  beggary  and  devastation  that 
followed  in  its  train,  but  the  influence  of  the  United  states  prior  to  the  Civil 
War,  being  comparatively  strong  at  home,  was  lamentably  weak  abroad, 
compared  to  some  of  the  great  nations  of  Europe.  In  fact,  we  have  to  admit 
that  it  was  Inferior  even  to  that  of  old  Spain,  that  took  us  but  forty  days 
to  drive  from  its  stronghold  in  Cuba  and  literally  wipe  from  the  face  of  the 
seas,  so  that  today,  anyone,  anywhere  upon  the  surface  of  the  earth,  claiming 
allegiance  to  and  entitled  to  the  protection  of  this  Government,  feels  them- 
selves comparatively   safe  under  the   folds  of  Old  Glory. 

We  shall  see  dark  clouds  arise  from  time  to  time  and  flit  across  our 
National    horizon    in    the    future    as    in    the    past,    but   they   will    be    dissipated, 


u^ 


JAMES     H.    l'KABODV.    Canon   City. 
Vice-President  for  Colorado. 


TRANS-MISSISSIPPI    COMMERCIAL    CONGRESS  111 

their  cause  and  effect  will  be  carefully  studied,  discussed,  and  finally  settled 
and  settled  for  our  good,  better  fitting  us  to  meet  the  destiny  that  waits  us 
both  as  a  people  and  as  a  nation.  I  have  unbounded  confidence  in  this 
American  people  to  meet  all  obstacles  to  her  progress.  This  mingling  here 
of  the  most  energetic  and  progressive  of  all  the  nations  makes  a  nationality 
that  is  irresistible  and  unconquerable,  and  they  will  see  to  it  and  see  to  it 
well,  that  this  government  of  the  people,  by  and  for  the  people  will  continue 
to  grow  in  strength,  in  wealth,  and  in  happiness  in-  every  way,  and  in  peace 
and   good-will   with   all   nations.      (Applause.) 

By  President  Case: 

We  have  listened  with  great  interest  to  Col.  Baker's  valuable  address. 
Now,  we  have  with  us  this  evening  another  member  of  this  Congress.  He 
who  is  going  away  tomorrow,  Honorable  J.  H.  Peabody,  former  Governor  of 
Colorado.     (Applause.) 

REMARKS     OF    HON.    J.    H.     PEABODY,    OF     COLORADO. 
By  Mr.  Peabody,  Canon  City: 

Mr.  Chairman,  Ladies  and  Gentlemen,  Delegates  to  the  Nineteenth 
Trans-Mississippi  Commercial  Congress:  I  presume  the  only  reason  the 
chairman  had  in  introducing  me  to  this  audience  this  evening  was  that  yen 
might  compare  the  real  with  the  unreal,  as  shown  on  the  editorial  page  of 
the  Globe  of  this  evening.  I  purchased  a  paper  at  the  hotel  this  afternoon 
and,  much  to  my  surprise,  discovered  what  purported  to  be  a  picture  of  the 
"Ex-Governor  of  Colorado."  It  may  look  like  me,  but  if  I  look  like  that,  my 
wife    won't    know    me    when    I    return    to    Colorado.       (Laughter.) 

I  can  assure  you,  ladies  and  gentlemen,  that  it  has  been  one  of  the 
extremest  pleasures  of  my  life  to  be  in  San  Francisco  on  this  visit,  and  see 
the  wonderful  improvement  that  has  been  accomplished  here  in  fifteen 
months.  (Applause.)  It  was  my  pleasure  to  be  here  fifteen  months  ago, 
when  Market  Street  was  almost  impassable.  I  could  hardly  get  from  the 
depot  to  the  hotel  or  back  again.  And  to  come  here  now  and  see  the  street 
cars  running,  these  enormous  buildings,  ten,  twelve  and  fourteen  stories 
high,  completed,  ready  for  occupancy,  shows  a  nerve  and  an  enterprise 
upon  the  part  of  the  people  of  this  magnificent  city  that  I  believe  can  be 
found   nowhere   else    in    the   United    States.      (Applause.) 

They  said  in  the  East  that  San  Francisco  would  never  be  rebuilt.  I  have 
only  to  say  to  them  that  if  they  will  come  here  and  spend  twenty-four  hours 
in  this  splendid  city,  they  will  know  that  the  courage  of  San  Franciscans  can 
never   be   crushed   by   one   earthquake.      (Applause.) 

I  am  compelled  to  go  away  tomorrow.  I  have  been  very  much  interested 
in  the  proceedings  of  this  Congress,  as  I  have  in  previous  ones;  and  I  know 
that  the  questions  that  are  being  discussed  here  will  be  of  material  ad- 
vantage to  the  people  of  the  Middle  West  and  the  Western  States.  I  have 
no  idea  nor  can  I  guess  where  you  will  next  call  your  Congress  to  assemble; 
but  should  it  come  to  our  splendid  state  of  Colorado,  and  that  magnificent 
city  of  Denver,  I  can  promise  you  a  reception  that  will  be  as  warm  and  as 
loving  and  as  entertaining  as  we  have  had  in  San  Francisco  upon  this 
occasion.  (Applause.)  And  I  may  say  further,  that  if  in  your  deliberations 
you  choose  one  of  Colorado's  sons  as  your  next  president,  you  cannot  over- 
whelm us  with  greater  kindness.  We  will  be  just  as  pleased  as  it  is  possible 
for  human  beings  to  be  pleased  over  a  kind  act.  I  thank  you  very  much 
for  this  opportunity.  I  will  not  occupy  more  of  your  time,  for  I  see  the 
president  is   getting  ready  to   handle  his   gavel.      (Applause.) 

REMARKS     BY    HON.    THOMAS    F.    WALSH,    OF    COLORADO. 
By    Chairman   Thomas   F.   Walsh: 

Ladies  and  Gentlemen:  President  Case  has  in  the  kindness  of  his  heart 
reauestedme  to  introduce  the  gentleman  who  will  entertain  you  next.  Before 
doine  it  and  at  the  risk  of  tiring  you.  I  will  relate  a  little  history.  It 
touches  uoon  the  work  upon  which  he  will  address  you.  Eight  years  ago  this 
nresent  month  I  was  with  my  family  in  Chicago,  passing  through.  I  was 
stopping  at  the  Auditorium  Annex,  and  Mr.  Newell  of  the  Geological  Survey. 
and  Mr  Gifford  Pinchot,  now  chairman  of  the  Conservation  Commission, 
enl  ed  me  on  the  telephone  and  said  they  must  see  me  at  once.  I  invited 
them  to  the  hotel.  There  was  at  that  time  in  Chicago  a  session— I  do  not  now 
remember  what  number  it  was— of  the  Irrigation  Congress.  'hey  said  to 
me  "We  would  like  very  much  to  have  you  accept  the  presidencj  ol  the 
Pono-rlss"  "Well"  I  said,  "gentlemen,  I  have  had  no  experience  in  pre- 
sid ins  over  such  assemblages."  "Well,"  they  said,  "that  doesn't  matter.  We 
want  somebody  who  will  work."  I  could  not  see  my  way  clear  to  accept, 
7o  I  told  them  to  consult  with  the  bead  of  my  house,  that  my  wife  was  m   the 


112  REPORT    OF    PROCEEDINGS 

next  room  ami  tliry  could  talk  to  her  about  it.  Well,  she  decided  for  me,  as 
she  always  does.  1  accepted.  Thai  Congress  was  kind  enough  to  elect  me  its 
president.  In  accepting  the  position  I  promised  that  with  their  assistance 
before  another  session  came  around,  we  would  have  the  national  government 
properly   in   harness  in   the  interest   of  irrigation   work. 

That  winter  at  Washington  there  was  a  galaxy  of  workers  trying  to 
teach,  to  educate  and  to  illustrate  to  the  members  of  the  eastern  portion 
of  our  country  what  great  benefil  the  reclamation  of  arid  lands  would  bring 
to  the  Nation  at  large;  and  l  pledge  you  my  word  it  was  rather  a  difficult 
task  to  convince  them  that  it  was  a  meritorious  undertaking.  I  remember 
one  gentleman  from  a  small  state  in  New  England,  saying  to  me  in  discussing 
it,  "We  might  as  well  ask  the  United  States  Government  to  remove  the  pebbles 

and   cobblestones   from   our   New    Fngland    h s.   as    to   do    what   you    want   us 

to  do  in  the  "West."  I  said,  "Yes,  Senator,  you  are  unite  right,  if  the  removal 
Of  the  stones  will  make  way  for  comfortable  and  independent  homes." 
(Applause.) 

As  I  remember,  in  that  little  coterie,  there  was  the  gentleman  whom  1  am 
to  introduce  this  evening,  also  Mr.  F.  H.  Newell,  of  the  Geological  Survey,  and, 
if  I  remember  right,  Senator  Newlands  from  your  border  State,  Nevada,  but 
beyond  all  there  was  that  sterling  character,  that  great  American,  that 
great  President,  Theodore  Roosevelt.  (Applause.)  Much  has  been  read 
about  what  our  President  has  done,  but  all  during  that  winter  he  never 
lost  an  opportunity  nor  an  occasion  to  show  those  members  of  Congress  who 
were  opposed  to  the  Reclamation  Act  the  error  of  their  way.  And  1  tell  you, 
gentlemen,  that  when  time  has  passed  and  our  children's  children  are  occupy- 
ing those  lands,  praise  will  ascend  and  Theodore  Roosevelt's  memory  for  bis 
one  gnat  meritorious  act,  signing  the  Reclamation  Bill,  will  never  be  for- 
gotten.     Without   him  the  Reclamation   Act  could  not  have  been  passed. 

1  want  to  say  a  word  about  Gifford  Pinchot.  He  was  young,  active  then 
as  he  is  today.  He  had  not  then  entered  upon  the  work  of  the  preservation 
of  the  forests,  although  his  people  had  dedicated  or  established  a  chair,  1 
think,  at  Yale,  for  the  teaching  of  forestry  and  the  preservation  of  forests. 
Mr.  Pinchot  threw  his  heart  and  soul  into  this  work.  As  Chief  Forester. 
there  was  no  moment  of  his  time  that  he  was  not  ready  to  work  in  /this 
cause;  and  knowing  him  as  I  do,  knowing  what  a  sterling  character  he  is, 
I  am  sure  if  there  are  any  things  in  connection  with  the  forestry  service,  any 
Irregularities  or  any  encroachments,  or  any  hindranc<  s  aiming  at  the  farmer 
or  the  miner,  I  am  sure  he  will  be  the  first  to  recognize  the  grievance  and 
help  to  correct  it.  Mr.  Newlands  acted  nobly  in  that  work.  He  gave  his 
house  for  entertainments,  and  in  connection  with  those  entertainments  were, 
I  presume,  some  of  the  pictures  that  will  be  shown  on  the  canvas  here  to- 
night, showing  the  arid  lands  and  then  the  improvements  and  the  dwellings. 
Just  think,  that  was  only  eight  years  ago.  That  great  department  has 
work  actually  under  way  today  that  will  make  homes  for  over  100,000  families, 
for-  at  least  100,000  people,  in  the  farms  alone,  and  I  dare  say  100,000  more  in 
the  towns  and  the  villages  that  will  be  created  with  that  reclaimed  land; 
and  we  are  only  in  the  beginning  of  the  work.  As  you  look  upon  the  pictures 
tonight  you  can  readily  see  that  it  is  only  the  beginning;  you  can  readily  see 
that  we  have  got  an  opportunity  to  bring  millions  of  men  from  the  crowded 
cities;  from  the  crowded,  dusty  tenement  houses,  where  they  have  nothing 
but  their  labor  to  sell,  if  they  will  only  come.  "We  can  bring  millions  of 
them  here  and  put  them  down  on  those  little  independent  homes  and  make 
them  happy,  prosperous,  contented  citizens — citizens  who  will  have  anchorage 
in  the  soil,  and  citizens  who  will  be  a  protection,  ever  willing  to  maintain 
this  Government  if  danger  should  ever  threaten.      (Prolonged  applause.) 

I  now  have  the  pleasure  of  introducing  to  you,  Hon.  C.  .1.  Blanchard,  of 
Washington,  D.  C,  Statistician  of  the  Reclamation  Department  of  our  Go\  - 
eminent.     I  thank  you,  gentlemen,  for  your  attention.      (Applause.) 

"RECLAMATION    OF    \KII>    LANDS,"   B\    Il<»\.    C.   J.    BLANCHARD,    STATIS- 
TICIAN   OF   THE    RECLAMATION    SERVICE,    WASHINGTON,    I).    C. 

My   Mr.    Blanchard: 

Mr.  Chairman.  Ladies  and  Gentlemen,  and  |)elegates  to  the  Trans- 
Mississippi  Commercial  Congress:  I  regard  it  as  a  great  privilege  to  be  per- 
mitted   to   come   here   tonight   to   give  you   in    a   picture    talk    some    idea   of   the 

great    work    the    Govern nt    has   been    carrying    forward    during    the    past    six 

years. 

Tli is  work  has  grown  to  such  proportions  that  it  is  almost  impossible  for 
one  to  carrj  it  In  mind,  so  as  to  be  able  to  repeat  it  offhand,  and  1  am  going 
to  ask  .sour  indulgence  for  just  a  few  moments  before  I  put  the  pictures  on, 
while  I  read  a  little  to  you  about  the  work  that  has  gone  forward,  and 
what  is  proposed  to  be  done  after  these  works  are  completed.  1  am  not 
going  i"  detain  you  with  any  address,  but  just  a  little  brief  recital  of  the 
plans   of   the   Government,  and  then    1    will    take   you,   if    you    will    go   with   me 


THOMAS    F.    WALSH,    Denver    (  YVolhurst),    Colorado. 
Chairman    Executive    Committee. 


TRANS-MISSISSIPPI    COMMERCIAL    CONGRESS  113 

WSS^ftt^ffi^  »*T.    in    which 

.Mar. '^SSS?   ^^^hic*°of   ^se_xnany   of   the  delegates    are 


000    acres    now   desert    and    uninhabited    will    be   converted   into    small    farms 
before  this  national  work  is  concluded.     You  will  remember  that   that  is  Quite 

74dnn°nPnonTn^e  1*1irea  that  w,ere.fir?t  Siyen  you,  which  as  [  rememb  were 
74,000,000  acres;  but  we  are  beginning  to  find  out  that  while  we  liave  a 
large  amount  of  desert  land,  the  water  supply  is  restricted  and  our  most 
conservative  engineers  today  claim  that  75,000,000  acres  is  about  the  limit  of 
National  reclamation.  This  vast  area,  capable  of  supporting  millions  of 
people  will  be  brought  into  cultivation  without  entailing  the  loss  of  a  single 
dollar  to  the  National  treasury,  and  that  is  something  I  find  quite  a  number 
of  people  have  never  understood,  especially  our  friends  in  the  East  who 
have  regarded  with  suspicion  this  movement  of  National  development  think- 
ing it  is  going  to  be  a  tax  upon  the  Eastern  farms.  The  cost  of  reclamation 
of  all  the  land  in  the  West  by  National  irrigation  is  assessed  to  the  land 
and  the  home  builder  who  acquires  this  land  must  return  to  the  treasury 
the   money    expended    by   the   Government   in   its    reclamation. 

The  full  importance  of  National  reclamation  is  obtainable  only  by  com 
parison.  The  twenty-seven  projects  upon  which  the  Government  is  now 
engaged,  when  developed  to  their  full  extent,  will  add  3.198,000  acres  to  the 
crop  producing  area  of  the  United  States.  Add  to  these  thirteen  other 
projects  which  are  held  in  abeyance,  pending  the  completion  of  the  first- 
mentioned,  and  which  will  reclaim  3,270,000  acres,  and  we  have  a  grand 
total  of  6,468,000  acres.  This  enormous  area  today  is  practically  worthless. 
It  returns  revenues  neither  to  the  states  in  which  it  is  located,  nor  to  the 
Nation  to  which  it  largely  belongs.  It  is  utilized  only  a  short  period  in  each 
year  for  grazing  nomadic  herds,  that  are  driven  over  it.  Potentially  it  is 
the  richest,  the  most  fertile  and  productive  land  in  the  world,  and  is  capable 
of  supporting  in  comfort  an  agricultural  population  as  dense  as  can  be 
found  in  any  of  the  older  settled  parts  of  our  country.  By  expending 
$60,000,000  on  the  twenty-seven  engineering  works  now  in  process  of  con- 
struction, the  reclamation  service  will  reclaim  3,198.000  acres,  or  a  cultivated 
area  equal  to  the  total  acreage  in  crops  in  the  four  states  of  Connecticut, 
Massachusetts.  New  Hampshire  and  Florida.  The  diversified  crops,  enormous 
yields  from  irrigated  lands,  and  the  excellent  prices  for  all  farm  products 
in  the  West,  warrant  the  assumption  that  this  land  will  return  annually 
an  income  larger  than  the  farmers  receive  in  the  four  states  named.  For 
comparison,  let  us  say  that  the  revenues  per  acre  will  be  the  same.  It 
is  apparent  then  that  this  area  reclaimed  will  each  year  increase  the  value 
of  farm  crops  by  $60,000,000,  and  that  $60,000,000  which  is  to  he  expended 
in  Government  work  will  be  returned  in  a  single  crop.  This  work  will  also 
add  $232,000,000  to  the  taxable  property  of  the  people;  it  will  furnish  homes, 
as  the  president  of  the  Trans-Mississippi  Commercial  Congress  has  said,  to 
100,000  families  or  400,000  people  on  farms  alone. 

The  settlement  of  the  desert  will  be  followed,  and  in  some  instances  pie- 
ceded,  by  the  construction  of  hundreds  of  miles  of  railroads,  of  electric 
lines,  by  the  development  of  power  for  manufacturing  and  for  municipal  and 
domestic  use,  by  a  great  building  movement,  and  by  innumerable  Investments 
which  accompany  the  creation  of  commonwealths.  All  these  will  ag| 
gate  millions  of  dollars,  assuring  employment  for  thousands  of  skilled  and 
unskilled  laborers,  and  furnishing  a  home  market  for  the  bulk  of  the  products 
of  the  new  farms.  This  immense  development  of  agriculture  in  the  West 
does  not  menace  the  prosperity  of  the  Eastern  and  Middle  Western  farmer. 
Our  statistics  show  that  nearly  80  per  cent  of  the  desert  crops  are  forage 
and  consumed  at  home.  The  products  exported  are  special  crops,  which 
are  in  no  sense  competitive  with  Eastern  grown.  The  desert's  cereal  crops 
do  not  come  East  The  Orient  has  opened  wide  its  various  forest  products, 
and    for    the    output    of    Western    coal    mines.      Western    development    menus 


114  REPORT    OF    PROCEEDINGS 

additional  markets  for  Eastern  manufactured  products — cotton,  woolens, 
steel  and  hardware,  boots  and  shoes,  and  the  high-grade  household  com- 
modities. With  the  enormous  increase  in  the  demand  for  such  articles, 
the  manufacturers  will  be  compelled  to  enlarge  their  plants  and  add  to 
the  number  of  their  employees.  Such  increase  will  add  to  the  demand  for 
home-grown  crops  and  assures  the  continued  prosperity  of  the  Eastern 
farmers.  Thus  we  see  that  the  Eastern  farmer  and  manufacturer  are  both 
directly  concerned  in  the  work  of  reclaiming-  the  great  American  desert. 
Aside  from  the  fact  that  the  limitless  West  is  the  safety  valve  against 
the  threatened  overcrowding  of  the  East,  it  is  also  the  treasure  chest  from 
which    the    East   may   draw    for   revenue   for   all    the    years    to    come. 

Just  to  sum  up  briefly,  I  want  to  give  you  just  a  few  figures  of  the 
work    which    has    been    done. 

A  summation  of  the  work  of  the  Reclamation  Service  to  date  shows  that 
it  has  dug  2,370  miles  of  canals,  or  more  than  the  distance  from  Chicago 
to  San  Francisco.  Some  of  these  canals  carry  whole  rivers,  like  the  Truckee 
River  in  Nevada,  and  the  North  Platte  in  Wyoming.  The  tunnels  excavated 
are  57  in  number  and  have  an  aggregate  length  of  15%  miles.  The  Service 
has  erected  312  large  structures,  including  two  great  dams  in  Nevada,  the 
Minidoka  dam  in  Idaho,  and  the  Granite  Reefs  dam  in  Arizona.  It  has 
completed  4,800  headworks,  flumes,  etc.  It  has  built  374  miles  of  wagon  road 
in  mountainous  country  and  into  heretofore  inaccessible  regions.  It  has 
erected  and  in  operation  874  miles  of  telephones.  It  has  manufactured  and 
purchased  638,000  barrels  of  cement.  The  surveying  parties  of  the  Service 
have  completed  topographic  surveys  covering  10,970  square  miles,  or  greater 
than  the  combined  area  of  Massachusetts  and  Rhode  Island.  The  transit  lines 
have  a  length  of  18,900  linear  miles,  while  the  level  lines  run  are  more 
than  sufficient  to  go  around  the  earth.  The  diamond  drillings  for  dam  sites 
and  canals  amount  to  65,000  feet,  or  more  than  12  miles. 

Today  the  Service  owns  and  has  at  work  1,500  horses  and  mules;  it 
operates  9  locomotives,  611  cars  and  23  miles  of  road;  84  gasoline  engines 
and  70  steam  engines.  It  has  constructed  and  is  operating  five  electric 
light  plants.     Its  work  has  been  carried  on  with  the  following  force: 

Classified   service,    including  the  Washington   office 1,126 

Laborers   employed   directly   by   the   Government 4,448 

Laborers    employed    by    contractors 10,789 

Total    of    all    forces 16,383 

The  expenditures  equal  a  total  of  $1,000,000  per  month. 

The  excavations  of  earth  and  rock  on  canal  and  tunnel  work  involve  mov- 
ing more  than  52,667,978  cubic  yards,  or  more  than  one-third  of  the  estimated 
total  yardage  of  the  Panama  Canal.  The  canal  systems  watered  363,050  acres 
this  year  and  cover  978,365  acres,  most  of  which  will  be  supplied  as  soon  as  the 
reservoirs  are  built.  The  total  area  under  ditch  is  equal  to  a  strip  of  land  a 
mile  wide  and  extending  from  Albuquerque  to  Chicago. 

As  a  result  of  the  operations  of  the  Reclamation  Service  eighteen  new 
towns  have  been  established,  116  miles  of  branch  railroad  have  been  con- 
structed, and  50,000  people  have  taken  up  their  homes  in  the  desert, 
i  Applause.) 

The  foregoing  remarks  of  Mr.  Blanchard  were  then  followed  by  stere- 
opticon  illustrations,  and  after  prolonged  applause  proceedings  were  resumed 
as   follows: 

By  Secretary  Francis: 

We  wish  to  announce  that  there  will  be  another  illustrated  lecture 
tomorrow  evening  upon  the  aqueduct  at  Los  Angeles. 

The  Congress  is  invited  by  the  local  committee  to  take  a  trip  upon  the 
bay  at  9:30  o'clock  tomorrow  morning.  Those  who  wish  to  take  it  can  get 
tickets  here  at  the  stand,  and  we  have  also  some  badges  for  the  delegates 
who  wish  the  yellow  badges.  I  am  requested  to  announce  the  program  for 
the   bay   trip   as   follows: 

ENTERTAINMENT    OK    DEIJBGATKS. 

The  Sehome  will  leave  Clay  Street  wharf  at  the  north  end  of  the  Ferry 
depot  at  9-30  a.  m.,  and  will  proceed  first  to  the  1'nited  States  Cruiser  Colo- 
rado After  leaving  the  Colorado,  the  Sehome  will  visit  the  following  points 
of  Interest  in  the  order  named:  Mission  Hock,  China  Basin,  Union  Iron  Works, 
Risdon  Iron  Works.  Western  Sugar  Refinery.  I'olrero  Point.  Hunter's  Point 
Dry    Dock     Alameda   Mole,    entrance    to    Oakland    Harbor,    Oakland    Mole,    Key 


TRANS-MISSISSIPPI    COMMERCIAL    CONGRESS  115 

Route  Mole,  United  States  Naval  Training  Station,  United  States  Lighthouse 
Station,  Yerba  Buena  Island,  Richmond,  Winehaven,  Twin  Brothers  Light- 
house, Red  Rock,  United  States  Naval  Coaling-  Station  at  California  City, 
United  States  Quarantine  Fumigation  Station,  United  States  Immigration  Sta- 
tion, in  course  of  construction,  United  States  Quarantine  Station  at  Hospital 
Cove,  United  States  Army  Post  at  Angel  Island,  Tiburon,  Belvedere,  Sausalito, 
Port  Baker,  Lime  Point  Fog  Signal  Station,  Golden  Gate,  Point  Bonita 
Lighthouse,  Mile  Rock  Lighthouse,  Fort  Miley,  Fort  Winfield  Scott,  Fori 
Mason,    Presidio.    Alcatraz    Island,   and    Telegraph    Hill. 

The  committee  which  has  arranged  this  and  other  entertainments  for  the 
delegates  to  the  Congress,  is  composed  of  James  Rolph  Jr..  chairman;  C.  W. 
Burks,  secretary;  Henry  M.  Abrams,  A.  R.  Briggs,  Charles  W.  Conlisk.  J, 
Parker  Currier,  Charles  H.  Crocker,  W.  J.  Dutton,  Burt  L.  Davis.  Zoeth  S. 
Eldredge,  W.  L.  Gerstle,  Rudolph  Herold  Jr.,  Livingston  Jenks.  A.  J.  le  Breton. 
F.  W.  Marvin,  Frederick  H.  Meyer,  E.  J.  Molera,  Edgar  Painter.  Henry  Payot, 
George  H.  Pippy,  Robert  A.  Ross,  Max  L.  Rosenfeld,  Charles  F.  Runyon, 
Julian  Sonntag,  Chauncey  M.  St.  John,  R.  J.  Taussig,  Henry  R.  Williar,  and 
R.   P.   Jennings. 

The  trip  of  the  Sehome  will  be  in  charge  of  the  following  sub -committee 
named  for  that  purpose:  Chauncey  M.  St.  John,  chairman;  Zoeth  S.  Eldredge, 
William    L.    Gerstle,    Rudolph    Herold    Jr.,    and    Julian    Sonntag. 

October  9 — Automobile  trip,  seeing  San  Francisco,  Autos  will  leave  St. 
Francis  Hotel  at  9  a.  m.,  returning  at  11  a.  m. 

October  9 — Observation  car  will  leave  Second  and  Market  Streets  at  10 
a.  m.  and  2  p.  m.,  for  a  trip  round  San  Francisco. 

October   10 — Reception,   Fairmont   Hotel.   8:30   p.   m.   until    11    p.    m. 

October  10 — Observation  car  will  leave  Second  and  Market  Streets  at 
10  a.  m.  and  2  p.   m.  for  a  trip  around  San  Francisco. 

October  11 — Exercises  in  Greek  Theater,  University  of  California. 
Berkeley,    at    2    p.    m. 

October    11 — Music,   Golden   Gate    Park,   San   Francisco,    2    to   5    p.    m. 

Delegates  and  their  families  will  not  require  tickets  to  participate  in 
any  of  these  trips,  exercises  or  reception.  Their  badges  will  entitle  them  to 
every   courtesy. 

(An  adjournment  was  here  taken  until  1:30  o'clock  Thursday  after- 
noon, October  8th,  1908.) 


SEVENTH   SESSION 


Thursday,    October    8,    1908. 

In  the  absence  of  the  President  or  any  of  the  Vice-Presidents  of  the 
Congress,  the  house  was  called  to  order  by  Secretary  Francis  at  2:50 
o'clock  p.  m. 

Secretary    Francis: 

This  is  resolution  hour,  gentlemen,  and  inasmuch  as  our  presiding  officer 
is  not  here,  we  will  dispose  of  these  resolutions. 

RIVERS.    HARBORS    AND    CANALS. 
By  W.  O.  Hart,  of  New  Orleans): 

We  emphatically  reaffirm  the  clear  and  comprehensive  resolutions  passed 
at  former  sessions  of  this  Congress  in  regard  to  the  improvement  of  the 
waterways  and  harbors  of  our  entire  country.  Speaking  more  especially  for 
the  Trans-Mississippi  region,  which  is  far  more  than  half  of  the  United  States, 
we  recognize  that  within  the  last  year  our  transportation  necessities  have 
greatly  increased.  The  time  has  come  when  we  should  pusli  with  all  possible 
expedition  the  perfect  improvement,  ample  extension  and  efficient  maintenance 
of  these  natural  facilities,  by  which  alone  can  we  get  the  cheapest  transpor- 
tation and  adequate  outlets  for  our  products;  hence  we  again  most  earnestly 
commend  to  our  members  the  movement  more  especially  represented  by  the 
National  Rivers  and  Harbors  Congress,  and  adopt  as  ours  its  slogan — an 
annual  appropriation  of  at  least  $50.000.000 — to  be  expended  in  the  further- 
ance of  this  pressing  and   indispensable  work. 

We  again  endorse  the  project  of  deep  water  from  the  Great  Lakes  to  the 
Gulf  of  Mexico,  so  that  the  sea  shall  virtually  be  carried  to  Chicago,  so  that 
our  teeming  products  shall  find  water  transportation  at  convenient  ports  all 
through  the  (enter  of  our  great  country,  instead  of  being  subjected  to  long 
and  expensive  hauls  over  congested  railroads  to  the  coast.  The  freight  con- 
dition of  the  past  year  or  more  shows  practically  and  conclusively  that  all 
of  our  facilities,  both  by  rail  and  water,  will  be  taxed  to  the  utmost  to  meet 
the  present  and  future  wants  of  our  commerce. 

We  favor  the  perfect  and  permanent  improvement  to  the  highest  points 
of  navigation  of  such  channels  of  travel  as  the  Missouri  River,  reaching  to 
the  far  Northwest;  the  Arkansas  and  Red,  penetrating  to  the  heart  of  the 
great  Middle  Southwest,  and  affording  outlet  to  the  new  and  prosperous  state 
of  Oklahoma,  and  to  an   even   larger  area  of  adjacent  and   populous   territory. 

"We  find  that  even  our  most  extensive  works  are  soon  inadequate  both  In 
depth  and  space  for  the  wants  of  commerce.  A  new  era  in  our  trade  develop- 
ment has  come  upon  us.  Already  we  are  badly  congested  in  the  movement 
of  our  commodities.  The  older  nations,  though  of  small  area  and  with  pro- 
ductions near  to  the  sea,  have  long  since  found  it  indispensable  to  avail  them- 
selves of  the  most  perfect  capacity  of  all  classes  of  transportation.  What 
was  indispensable  for  them  is  now  even  more  vital  to  us  with  our  greater 
territory  and  far  more  productive  population.  Hence  we  urge  that  improve- 
ment keep  pace  with  and  anticipate   our  commercial   wants. 

We  endorse  the  proposed  inter-coastal  canal  from  the  Mississippi  River 
to  the  Rio  Grande,  as  a  needed  and  most  beneficial  waterway  improvement, 
and  we  respectfully  urge  the  Senators  and  Representatives  of  the  Trans- 
Mississippi  States  in  Congress  to  favor  a  canal  of  not  less  than  nine  feet  in 
depth   and   not  less  than  one  hundred  feet  in   width. 

We  hail  with  satisfaction  the  progressive,  statesmanlike  and  patri  'tic- 
utterances  and  actions  of  the  President  of  the  United  States  in  regard  to 
these  great  measures.  We  call  upon  our  Senators  and  Representatives  in 
Congress,  regardless  of  party,  to  support  him  in  this  policy,  which  we  wish 
advanced  to  the  very  first  rank  of  our  public  policies.  If  necessary,  in  the 
construction  and  maintenance  of  the  great  system  of  works  of  which  our 
whole  country  now  stands  in  most  urgent  need,  we  favor  the  creation  of 
a  department  of  public  works;  and.  so  far  as  requisite,  an  increase  of  the 
public  debt.  We  wish  no  waste,  nor  do  we  wish  to  antagonize  any  other 
proper  public  interest;  but  we  demand  prompt  and  efficient  attention  to  these 
commercial  needs. 

By    Secretary   Francis: 

RESTORATION   OF  WITHDRAWN    LANDS. 
Bj    \\  .  II.  Dickson,  <>i'  Colorado! 

KKS<  il.YI'M  >.  That  it  is  the  sense  of  this  Congress  that  wherever  any 
proposed    reclamation    project    has    been    abandoned    by    the    Government,    any 


TRANS-MISSISSIPPI    COMMERCIAL    CONGRESS  1!7 

and    all    lands    withdrawn    by    the    Government     fnr    tv,^    ,,„^„    =w.j 
such   proposed  project,   should   be   forthwith restored to  en  rv    u  .  1 ' '^' V i '.' "; T    "/ 
and  any  and  all  water  rights  affected  by  the  Govern"     ■<         »   its 1      '     V. r    / 
of  such  project  should  be  restored   to   the  same  Son  In  which  they^ 
at  the  time  of  the  commencement  of  such  investigations 

By  Secretary   Francis: 

IMPROVEMENT    OF    THE    ARKANSAS    RIVER. 
By  D.  P.  Hall,  of   Muskogee: 

WHEREAS  It  has  been  demonstrated  that  the  Arkansas  River  is  navie- 
able  as  far  as  Muskogee,  Oklahoma,  where  the  Grand  and  Verdigris  Ivefs 
flow  into  the  Arkansas,  and  L  UIfcIls   liners 

WHEREAS  The  fullest  development  of  the  new  state  of  Oklahoma  de- 
mands satisfactory  freight  rates  and  all  benefits  that  may  acer 11  r  i  the 
use  of  its  navigable  waters,  therefore  be  it 

tt    ■tRFS^L'7E'DA     That  U  is  the   sense   and   desire   of  this   Congress   that    the 
United    States    Government    appropriate    sufficient    funds    for    the   taprovemen 
of  the  Arkansas  River  from   the  city  of  Muskogee  to  the  mouth   of  the  river. 

By  Secretary   Francis: 

THE     EXTENSION     OP     THE     COASTWISE     NAVIGATION     LAWS     TO     THE 

PHILIPPINE   ARCHIPELAGO. 
By  AV.  H.  Marston,  of  San  Francisco: 

WHEREAS,  It  was  the  declared  intention  of  Congress  in  nassin"-  the 
act  of  February  24th.  .1902.  and  subsequent  acts,  suspending  the^pufation 
of  the  Coastwise  Navigation  Laws  of  the  United  States  to  the  Philippine 
Islands  until  April  11  1909,  to  raise  revenue  for  the  government  and  benefil 
of  the  Philippine  Archipelago,  and 

WHEREAS,  It  was  argued  that  the  United  States  alone  could  not  take 
care  of  the  shipping  of  the  islands  with  vessels  of  American  register    and 

WHEREAS,  The  treaty  obligation  with  Spain,  granting  special  privileges 
to  its  vessels  ends  on  April  11th,   1909,  and 

WHEREAS,  It  is  apparent  to  the  Trans-Mississippi  Commercial  Congress 
and  others  familiar  with  the  Pacific  trade  conditions  that  it  is  unnecessary 
to  continue  this  "emergency"  policy  for  the  reasons  that  the  islands  have 
become  self-supporting,  and  American  ship  owners  can.  with  the  assistance 
of  the  ship  subsidy  bill,  most  likely  to  be  passed  by  Congress  at  the  coming 
session,  take  care  of  the  commerce  of  the  islands,  it  is  heieby 

RESOLVED,  That  the  time  has  come  when  the  people  of  the  United  States 
should  be  given  the  benefits  that  they  are  entitled  to  by  the  purchase  of  the 
Philippine  Islands,  and  the  commercial  interests  of  the  Nation,  especially  of 
the  Pacific  Coast,  demand  that  the  coming  Congress  pass  such  legislation  as 
will  extend  the  Coastwise  Navigation  Laws  to  the  Philippine  Archipelago 
and  give  relief  from  the  present  tariff  tolls. 

By  Secretary   Francis: 

WATER   RIGHTS    AND   ELECTRIC    POWER. 
By  Hon.  Frank  H.   Short,  of  Fresno,  Cal.: 

The  Trans-Mississippi  Commercial  Congress  recognizing  the  great  and 
general  importance  of  the  subject,  ratifies  and  adopts  the  following  resolu- 
tion adopted  by  the  Sixteenth  National  Irrigation  Congress  at  Albuquerque 
to  wit: 

"This  congress  recognizes  the  growing  importance  of  the  development 
of  electric  power,  not  only  for  the  purposes  of  lighting,  manufacturing 
commerce,  but  also  in  aid  of  irrigation  by  pumping  from  snM  crra  uea  n  sources. 
Developments  already  accomplished  in  this  direction  warrant  the  assumption 
that,  in  the  not  far  distant  future,  the  lands  irrigated  by  water  pumped  from 
such  sources  will  equal,  if  they  do  not  exceed,  lands  irrigated  from  thi  aatural 
flow  of  streams.  The  development  and  use  of  our  streams  for  the  generation 
of  electric  power  not  only  aids  and  increases  irrigation   directly,    bul    is   b< 

ficial   in   manv   other  ways.     First,   it   renders  possible  and    profitable    tl on- 

struction  of  reservoirs  in  the  high  mountains  withholding  excessive  Hoods, 
thus  aiding  reclamation  and  also  conserving  this  injurious  How  which  is  later 
added  to  the  beneficial  flow  of  water  available  for  irrigation.  Second,  it  Is 
the  one  great  source  of  supply  immediately  available  for  lighting,  heal  and 
power  as  a  substitute  for  other  fuels,  thus  limiting  the  rapid  destruction  of 
our  forests  and  also  conserving  and  saving  our  supplies  ol  coal  and  other 
fuels.  Third,  the  use  of  electricity  for  pumping  renders  ii  possible  perma- 
nently to  reclaim  and  irrigate  vast  sections  of  our  arid  land  otherwise 
impossible    of    reclamation    or    irrigation.      Fourth,    its    extensive    development 


118  REPORT    OF    PROCEEDINGS 

will  cheapen  ami  extend  manufacturing  ami  commerce,  thus  affording  an 
immediate  home  market  for  the  products  of  our  irrigated  farms,  and  also 
cheaper  transportation  to  other  markets:  therefore,  be  It 

"RESOLVED,  That  the  necessary  rights  of  way  and  rights  for  the  con- 
struction of  reservoirs,  and  other  uses  of  the  public  lands,  for  the  develop- 
ment of  electric  power,  should  be  aided  and  encouraged  in  every  reasonable 
way,  and  all  such  rights  and  uses  should  be  granted  and  allowed  upon  equal 
terms  with  similar  rights  granted  for  the  direct  purpose  of  irrigation.  Such 
uses,  being  public  uses  subject  to  the  control  of  the  state,  should  continue  as 
long  as  the  right  to  the  beneficial  use  of  the  water  and  the  duty  to  supply 
the  power  continues  under  state  laws.  And  no  burdensome  charges  or  dis- 
criminations should  be  exacted  or  imposed,  as  a  result  of  which  such  beneficial 
developments  may  be  delayed  and  the  investment  of  capital  therein  prevented 
and   the  cost  increased  to  the  consumer." 

By   Secretary   Francis: 

We  have  a  resolution  from  the  California  Equal  Suffrage  Association,  by 
Mrs.  Mary  McHenry  Keith.  I  believe  she  is  in  attendance,  and  if  she  will 
step  forward,  she  will  be  permitted  to  read  her  own  resolution  and  take 
the  usual  three  minutes  in  the  discussion  of  it.  Gentlemen,  I  have  the 
pleasure  of  introducing  to  you,   Mrs.  Keith,  of  California.      (Applause.) 

By  Mary  M.  Keith,  of  California: 

Gentlemen,  I  come  before  you  as  a  member  of  the  Chamber  of  Com- 
merce of  Berkeley,  but  I  represent  as  well  the  California  Equal  Suffrage 
Association.  I  am  grateful  for  the  opportunity  of  presenting  these  resolu- 
tions, which  I  shall  read  to  you,  and  also  of  having  the  opportunity  to 
speak  to  the  resolution  for  three  minutes.  This  is  the  resolution  which 
has  been  prepared  by  the  convention's  Resolutions  Committee  of  the  Cali- 
fornia Equal  Suffrage  Association,  of  which  I  have  the  honor  to  be  chairman, 
to  come  before   your   body. 

WOMAN'S   SUFFRAGE. 

Believing  in  the  conservation  of  our  natural  resources,  and  that  our 
country's  most  valuable  resources  are  the  men  and  women  in  it;  believing, 
moreover,  that  women  should  be  protected  equally  with  men  In  their  labor 
and  property  rights,  and  that  they  are  justly  entitled  to  all  the  rights  and 
privileges  of  American  citizenship,  especially  the  right  to  the  ballot,  there- 
fore,   be    it 

RESOLVED,  That  we  call  upon  the  United  States  to  immediately  declare 
the  enfranchisement  of  its  women,  and  we  urge  the  several  sister  states  to 
speedily  follow  the  commendable  example  of  the  four  free  states,  namely, 
Wyoming,  Utah,  Colorado,  and  Idaho. 

I  was  just  notified  to  wear  the  badge  of  the  New  Orleans  delegation, 
signifying  that  my  choice  for  the  next  convention  of  the  Congress  should  be 
New  Orleans.  But  I  prefer  Denver,  as  the  state  of  Colorado  is  one  of  our 
free  states.  There  are,  however,  hopes  for  New  Orleans,  as  the  New  Orleans 
women  have  the  right,  that  is,  the  tax-paying  women  of  New  Orleans,  have 
the  right  to  vote  on  certain  questions. 

We  hear  a  great  deal  of  opposition,  a  great  many  canards,  as  to  the 
working  of  woman's  suffrage  in  our  free  states.  But  we  prefer  to  take  the 
testimony  of  such  public-spirited  citizens  as  Governor  Adams,  of  Colorado, 
Governor  Peabody,  Mrs.  Sarah  Piatt  Decker,  or  of  Judge  Bindsey,  of  the 
Juvenile  Court,  who  declares  himself  to  be  unqualifiedly  in  favor  of  it. 

The  women  of  our  country  are  the  natural  conservators  of  its  material 
resources.  This  evening  your  wives  and  daughters  are  being  entertained 
at  a  reception  given  by  one  of  the  most  prominent  women's  clubs  of  Cali- 
fornia, namely,  the  California  Club,  which  has  spent  time  and  money,  it  has 
sent  delegates  to  Washington  in  that  behalf,  in  an  effort  to  save  the  Big 
Trees  of  California.  Think  of  the  shame  of  it,  that  the  men  cannot  step 
forward  and  prevent  that  terrible  destruction,  and  prevent  one  of  the 
great  natural  wonders  of  California  from  being  forever  swept  away — keep 


TRANS-MISSISSIPPI    COMMERCIAL    CONGRESS  119 

those  beautiful  and  magnificent  trees  from  the  woodman's  axe'  If  the 
women  had  a  vote,  we  should  be  able  to  do  much  more  in  such  respect  than 
that.  Women  are  for  good  roads.  They  are  starting  improvement  clubs 
all  over  the  country,  and  today,  because  of  our  interest  in  all  civic  matters 
because  of  the  fact  that  we  are  of  right  entitled  to  it,  we  beg  of  you  to 
give  us  the  right  to  the  ballot.     (Applause.) 

By   Secretary   Francis: 

Mrs.  Keith  might  have  added  that  in  1894,  the  Trans-Mississippi  Com- 
mercial Congress  adopted  a  resolution  on  suffrage,  and  was  the  first 
organization  of  any  note  to  extend  that  courtesy.  (Applause.)  It  was  for 
this  reason  that  this  organization  was  held  in  such  high  esteem  by  Susan  B. 
Anthony,  Lucy  Stone  and  other  prominent  suffragists.     (Applause.) 

If  there   are   no   other  resolutions  to  be   presented  at  this  time,   I   will 
declare  a   short  recess. 

Past  President  John  Henry  Smith,  of  Utah,  in  the  chair. 
President  Smith: 

The  convention  will  again  come  to  order.  I  have  a  resolution  from  the 
chairman  of  the  Philippine  delegation,  Mr.  Max  L.  McCollough,  who  desires 
to  say  a  few  words  in  connection  with  it.  I  will  ask  the  Secretary  to  read 
the  resolution. 

Secretary  Francis: 

The  resolution  is  as  follows: 

REVISION    OF    TARIFF    LAWS    FOR    THE    PHILIPPINES. 
By  Max  L.  McCollough,  of  Manila: 

RESOLVED,  That  the  Trans-Mississippi  Commercial  Congress,  in  further- 
ance of  the  present  attitude  of  the  United  States  toward  the  Philippine  people, 
and  in  view  of  the  many  far-reaching  improvements  in  their  form  of  gov. 
ment  under  American  administration,  emphasizes  at  this  time  the  importance 
of  the  natural  resources  of  the  Philippine  Islands  as  a  field  of  profitable 
investments  for  American  capital  and  enterprise;  that  this  Congress  in  ses- 
sion assembled  recommends  to  the  American  people  a  more  thorough  study 
of  the  opportunities  for  utilizing  the  vast  forest,  mineral,  commercial  ami 
agricultural  resources  of  the  Philippine  Islands;  that  the  Federal  Government 
be  urged  to  facilitate  in  every  possible  way  legislation  for  such  a  revision  "f 
the  insular  public  land  and  tariff  laws  as  will  be  conducive  to  the  economic 
prosperity  of  the  Philippines  and  to  their  constant  and  stable  development 
along  the  lines  of  peace  and  civilization. 

PHILIPPINE    ISLANDS. 

President  Smith: 

Is  Mr.  M.  L.  McCollough,  from  the  Philippines,  here,  and  does  he  desire 

to  speak  on  the  subject? 

Mr.  Max  Li.  McCollough: 

Mr.  Chairman:  I  have  been  asked  to  say  a  few  words  this  afternoon  in 
behalf  of  the  Philippine  Islands,  in  behalf  of  the  territory  in  the  Philippine 
Archipelago  which  may  be  termed  America's  farthest  frontier.  I  will  limit 
what  I  have  to  say  to  the  economic  phase  of  the  Philippine   question. 

You  probably  know  a  great  deal  about  the  Philippine  people,  of  the 
efforts  of  the  Government  to  give  them  a  liberal  and  a  just  administration, 
and  of  what  has  been  done  by  such  eminent  men  as  Secretarj  Tali  ami  others 
who  have  been  our  governors.  I  want  to  say  a  few  words  regarding  the 
economic  importance  of  the  Philippines. 

For  the  past  eight  years  I  have  been  connected  with   the    Philippine 
ernment,  and  for  the  last  three  and  a  half  or  four  years  in   the  administrative" 
department   of    the   Moro    province,    which    is    the    most    importanl    pari    of    the 
Philippines,  as  far  as  agriculture,  as  far  as  the  economic  side  of  their  develop- 
ment goes  in   its  relation   to  American  capital  and  enterprise. 

The  Moro  province  is  situated  in  the  southern  part  oi  the  Philippine 
Archipelago.  It  includes  many  islands,  including  all  of  the  Jolo  ><v  Sulu 
Archipelago,  and  a  large  part  of  the  second  largest  island  of  the  Philippine 
Islands    or   the    large   island    of   Mindanao.      On    this    island    are    located    tt) 


ll'ii  REPORT    OF    PROCEEDINGS 

some  sixtj  or  seventy  American  plantations,  raising  as  their  principal  crop, 
hemp  and  cocoanuts,  and  lately  to  a  lesser  bul  ever  Increasing  extent,  the 
product  of  rubber.  This  large  island  of  Mindanao  is  almost  wholly  un- 
developed. It  is  populated  by  Moros,  and  by  other  pagan  tribes,  the  Moros 
being  Mohammedans,  and  other  tribi  s  who  are  not  politically  ambitious  to 
become  a  people,  as  are  the  inhabitants  of  the  northern  provinces.  It  is 
administered  by  a  separate  government,  quite  separate  and  distinct  from  the 
Philippine  Commission  and  Legislative  Assembly  of  Manila,  although  it  is 
under  the  supervision  of  the  civil  governor,  as  are  all  other  parts  of  the 
islands. 

The  administration  of  the  Horn  province  has  been  so  liberal,  and  so  in 
accord  with  the  feelings  of  the  Americans  and  those  who  had  money  to 
invest  in  the  Philippines,  that  in  this  part  of  the  islands,  more  than  any  other, 
is  found  the  agricultural  development  that  lias  been  brought  about  by  the 
application  of  American  brains  and  American  money  towards  the  development 
of  large  and  vast  natural  resources  of  the  Philippines. 

I  was  struck,  about  three  months  ago,  on  my  return  as  I  passed  through 
Honolulu,  and  the  rich  and  prosperous  territory  of  Hawaii,  to  see  the  extent 
and  the  scale  on  which  the  production  of  sugar  has  been  conducted  and  is 
being  conducted  today  in  those  islands,  to  see  the  tremendous  improvements 
on  the  crude  methods  of  former  times  with  the  methods  now  there  employed, 
methods  that  have  been  brought  about  by  the  application  of  labor-saving 
machinery  and  large  management  and  far-sighted  plans  in  the  development 
of  those  large  plantations.  And  the  thought  struck  me.  as  it  never  had 
before,  of  the  tremendous  opportunity  that  lies  in  the  Philippines  for  the 
investing  of  American  capital  and  the  investing  of  American  brains  and 
enterprise,  in  the  development  of  such  things  as  hemp  and  cocoanut  on  a  scale 
comparable  to  that  on  which  the  sugar  is  being  raised  today  in  the  Hawaiian 
Islands. 

You  all  know  that  sugar,  to  take  an  example  only,  is  not  profitably  raised 
on  small  plantations.  On  a  small  scale,  with  a  small  plant,  the  sugar  producer 
will  go  to  the  wall.  He,  cannot  compete  in  the  world's  markets.  But  on  the 
large  scale  that  they  are  working  on.  and  with  the  improvements  and  econo- 
mies in  the  management  and  production,  as  exhibited  in  Hawaii,  the  sugar 
properties  today  in  Hawaii  are  worth  perhaps  more  than  they  ever  were 
before,  and   this' year  is  a  bumper  year   for  sugar  producers. 

Now,  the  production  of  hemp,  which  is  the  tdiief  agricultural  output  of 
the  Philippines,  is  today  on  a  very  crude,  very  unsatisfactory  basis.  Very 
little  of  the  brains  and  enterprise  that  have  gone  into  making  these  large 
sugar  plantations  has  been  yet  applied  to  the  making  or  the  operating  of 
plantations  of  hemp.  Notwithstanding,  however,  those  crude  and  wasteful 
methods  which  are  employed  in  the  production  of  hemp  in  the  Philippines, 
on  a  small  scale  it  has  proven  itself  very  profitable  as  a  plantation  crop.  If. 
therefore,  hemp  on  the  small  scale,  with  the  crude  way  in  which  it  is  being 
produced,  is  still  profitable,  while  sugar,  for  example,  on  a  large  scale,  and 
with  like  methods,  is  not  at  all  profitable,  how  much  more  profitable  should 
hem])  be  if  it  were  grown  on  large  plantations  and  with  a  management  com- 
parable to  that  of  the  large  plantations  in  Hawaii  and  other  places  Where 
sugar  is  raised? 

This  is  only  an  illustration,  taking  hemp  for  the  text,  of  what  might  be 
done  in  the  Philippines  in  many  other  ways.  The  large  island  of  .Mindanao 
itself,  to  'say  nothing  of  the  rest  of  the  archipelago.  is  covered  with  the 
finest' of  forests  that  can  be  found  anywhere  in  the  entire  islands.  Here  are 
found  some  of  the  most  costly  and  the  finest  of  Philippine  woods,  but,  owing 
to  the  lack  of  roads,  owing  to  the  lack  of  development  of  the  country  itself, 
it  has  been  absolutely  impossible  to  take  advantage  of  this  large  amount  of 
wealth   locked   up   in   the  forests  in  the   mountains  of  the  islands. 

I  would  like  to  emphasize  this  one  thing  before  this  Congress  at  this 
time,  and  that  is  the  importance  of  the  economic  study  of  the  Philippines. 
To  whichever  party  in  the  political  world  we  may  belong,  we  are  in  favor  of 
keeping  the  Philippines  under  our  own  flag  and  our  own  rule,  or  of  turning 
them  over  as  soon  as  may  be  to  the  people  of  the  Philippines.  This  is  abso- 
lutely true,  that  the  lower  part  of  the  Philippine  Islands,  the  most  southern 
part,  thai  part  which  is  now  under  the  rule  of  the  Moro  province,  and  which 
has  been  set  aside,  for  g I  political  reasons,  and  away  from  the  administra- 
tion of  the  Philippine  Archipelago  as  a  whole,  should  remain  and  should  be 
treated  separately,  it  is  in  this  part,  more  probably  than  in  the  north,  that 
the  newcomer,  the  American,  if  he  will  come  over  to  Invest,  will  find  his 
greatest  opportunity.  It  is  populated  by  a  class  of  people  who  are  glad  to 
have  the  Americans  take  charge,  glad  to  give  up  what  little  rights  they  may 
have  in  the  government,  to  be  governed  better  and  in  a  more  civilized  way, 
by  a  power  like  our  own  Government.  In  this  part  of  the  islands  great  oppor- 
tunities lie  for  the  investment  of  capital  and  enterprise.  And  I  would  like  to 
see  more  study  of  the  natural  resources  of  the    Philippines,   more  information 


TRANS-MISSISSIPPI    COMMERCIAL    CONGRESS  121 

distributed  throughout  the  United  States  on  the  natural  resources  and"  the 
possibilities  in  the  Philippines  in  agriculture  and  in  other  lines  of  investment. 
I  will  be  glad  to  see  anyone  later  on  during  the  convention,  and  talk 
more  in  detail.  I  may  be  able  to  give  information  as  to  the  islands,  and  I 
hope  that  if  anyone  is  interested  to  the  extent  of  corresponding  with  Manila 
that  he  will  always  remember  that  the  Publicity  Committee  of  the  Manila 
Chamber  of  Commerce,  an  auxiliary  organization  of  this  Congress  is  at  all 
times  ready  and  willing  to  answer  any  and  all  communications  to  send  you 
any  and  all  printed  matter  they  have  on  the  Philippines,  to  put  you  in  com- 
munication with  those  who  may  be  able  to  show  you  the  best  lines  for  the 
investment  of  capital  and  the  production  of  great  returns  from  agricultural 
and  other  investments.     Gentlemen,  I  thank  you.      (Applause.) 

Mr.  Tom   Richardson,  of   Portland,   Oregon. 

Mr.  Chairman:  I  will  submit  this  resolution,  if  I  may  be  permitted  to 
do  so.  It  is  only  a  misfortune  of  mine  that  I  could  not  get  here  at  the 
resolution  hour.  I  would  like,  if  I  may,  to  read  this,  and  then  speak  upon  it 
for  the  three  minutes  permitted. 

President  Smith: 

The  gentleman   is  recognized. 

NEXT    NATIONAL    POLITICAL    CONVENTIONS    AT    SAX    FRANCISCO. 
By  Tom  Richardson,  Manager  Commercial  Club,  Portland,  Oregon : 

The  Trans-Mississippi  Commercial  Congress,  recognizing  the  great  value 
of  close  association  and  sympathetic  comprehension  in  strengthening  the  ties 
of  friendship  and  of  commerce  and  in  destroying  the  evils  of  provincialism 
and  sectionalism,  earnestly  requests  the  two  great  political  parties  of  our 
country  to  hold  their  next  national  conventions  in  the  far  western  city  of 
San  Francisco,  that  our  men  of  public  affairs  may  have  opportunity  in  one 
journey  to  become  widely  acquainted  through  personal  observation  with  the 
vast  and  varied  resources  of  the  Trans-Mississippi  territory  of  our  country. 

Mr.  Chairman  and  Gentlemen,  that  is  absolutely  a  non-political  resolu- 
tion. I  was  taking  breakfast  one  time  in  Buffalo,  New  York,  and  the  young 
man  next  to  me  seemed  very  much  dissatisfied  with  his  breakfast,  and  he 
turned  to  the  man  next  beyond  him  and  said:  "You  never  can  get  anything 
good  to  eat  out  west."  That  young  man  imagined  that  he  was  out  west,  and 
yet  he  was  in  Buffalo.  There  are  thousands  of  New  Yorkers,  there  are 
thousands  of  people,  indeed,  there  are  millions  of  people  east  of  the  Missis- 
sippi, that  have  no  appreciation  of  the  western  country  of  these  United 
States.  If  this  resolution  is  considered  favorably,  it  is  beneficial  to  St. 
Louis,  it  is  beneficial  to  Kansas  City,  it  is  beneficial  to  Denver,  and  it  is 
beneficial  to  every  citizen  of  the  Trans-Mississippi  region,  because  it  tells 
the  people  that  all  of  us  realize  that  here  in  San  Francisco  is  a  chance  for 
them,  in  coming  and  going,  to  see  every  part  of  the  country,  and  it 
recognizes,  through  the  Trans-Mississippi  Commercial  Congress,  the  fact 
that  the  rebuilding  of  this  city  is  not  a  local  matter,  it  is  not  a  Pacific 
Coast  matter,  it  is  even  beyond  a  national  matter,  it  is  an  international 
matter. 

Everyone  realizes  that  San  Francisco,  California,  and  the  Trans-Missis- 
sippi region  can  do  their  own  part  of  building  a  great  harbor  and  a  great 
city  here.  But  I  believe  that  this  source  of  publicity,  this  evidence  of  friend- 
ship on  the  part  of  the  Trans-Mississippi  region,  would  be  of  benefit  to  this 
city,  and  it  would  certainly  be  of  benefit  to  every  part  of  the  great  Trans- 
Mississippi  region,  if  the  people  would  travel  more  in  our  region.  You  know 
we  had  a  great  convention  in  Salt  Lake.  A  number  of  the  representati 
of  the  commercial  bodies,  of  the  magazine  people,  the  newspaper  men,  and 
railroad  officers  and  delegates  were  there.  The  motto  of  that  meeting  was, 
"See  Europe,  if  you  will;  but  see  America  first."  No  one  meeting  in  the 
country  ever  attracted  a  greater  amount  of  publicity.  The  trouble  with  our 
country  is  that,  in  the  great  populous  sections,  they  think  no  more  of  going 
to  Europe  than  they  do  of  going  from   Philadelphia  to   New  York.    They 


122  REPORT    OF    PROCEEDINGS 

really  prefer  to  go  over  the  Atlantic  to  parts  of  Europe,  than  to  make  the 
trip  from  New  York  to  Chicago  or  St.  Louis.  The  absolute  ignorance  on  the 
pari  of  the  great  masses  of  people  of  the  United  States  regarding  the  natural 
resources  of  their  country  is  one  that  you  gentlemen  are  familiar  with.  If 
we  can  get  the  conventions  of  the  two  great  political  parties  to  hold  their 
national  gatherings  in  San  Francisco  the  next  time,  it  will  bring  men  out 
here  who  in  no  other  way  would  ever  see  the  country  in  which  they  live.  It 
would  make  them  better  Americans.  And,  with  four  years'  notice  in  advance, 
we  can  meet  the  only  single  requirement  which  is,  ample  telegraphic  facili- 
ties— that  has  been  the  chief  objection  to  holding  the  convention  here.  For, 
when  it  comes  to  hotel  capacity,  when  it  comes  to  entertaining  capacity,  cer- 
tainly San  Francisco  is  today  equal  to  the  occasion,  and  she  would  certainly 
be  equal  to  the  occasion  in  four  years  from  now  from  every  point  of  view. 
I  thank  you.     (Applause.) 

Mr.   J.   G.   Hamilton: 

.Mr.  Chairman:  At  the  proper  opportunity,  I  give  notice  that  I  would 
like  to  reply  to  the  remarks  of  the  gentleman  from  the  Philippine  Islands. 

President  Smith: 

Resolution  hour  is  now  at  an  end;  we  resume  the  regular  order,  which  is 
an  address  by  Col.  Ike  T.  Pryor,  of  Texas,  on  "The  Livestock  Industry  of  the 
Western  Country."     Ladies  and  gentlemen,  Mr.  Pryor.     (Applause.) 

THE    LIVESTOCK   IMM  STHV. 

By   Colonel    Ike   T.    Pryor,    President    of   the    Southwest    stock    Raisers'    Asso- 
ciation  of  Texas. 
By   Mr.    Pryor   of   San    Antonio: 

Mr.  Chairman  and  Delegates  to  the  Trans-Mississippi  Commercial  Con- 
mess:  Few  realize  the  importance  and  magnitude  of  the  subject  assigned 
me,  viz.,  "The  Livestock  Industry  of  This  Country."  It  is  intimately  associ- 
ated with,  and  a  part  of  the  farming  interests  of  the  Trans-Mississippi  States. 
We  find  the  raising  and  fattening  of  livestock  co-extensive  with  the  farming 
interest,  hence  this  great  organization  and  the  country  are  to  be  congratu- 
lated that  you  are  making  this  industry  a  material  matter  for  your  recom- 
mendation to  Congress.  In  order  that  you  may  have  some  idea  and  form  a 
correct  opinion  of  the  vast  importance  this  industry  bears  to  the  prosperity 
of  the  farmers  of  the  Trans-Mississippi  district,  I  have  secured,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  comparison,  the  number  of  livestock  in  the  Trans-Mississippi  States 
and  Territories,  as  related   to   the  United  States. 

The  Trans-Mississippi  States  represented  in  population  in  1900.  19.000.000 
out  of  a  total  of  75,600,000  Cor  the  United  States,  or  25  per  cent,  while  accord- 
ing to  the  statistics  of  the  Agricultural  Department,  this  part  of  the  country 
contained  meat-producing  animals,  excluding  milch  cows,  in  ratio  to  the 
whole  country  January  1st.  1907,  as  follows: 

Cattle    in    United    States 51,565,731 

Cattle    in    Trans-Mississippi    States 35.847.061 

Per   cent    in    Trans-Mississippi   States 7"    per   cent 

Swine    in    United    States .".1.794.439 

Swine    in    Trans-Mississippi    States 28,841,270 

Per    cent   of    the   Trans-Mississippi    Stairs .".2    per    cent 

Sheep    iii    the   United    States 53.J4o.2s2 

Sheep    in    the   Trans-Mississippi    States 39,476,685 

Per  cent   in  Trans-Mississippi   States 74   per   cenl 

The  number  of  cattle,  hogs  and  sheep  (including  milch  stock)  in  the 
United  States,  January  1st,  1908,  and  their  estimated  values,  as  given  by  the 
Agricultural    Department,    are   as    follows: 

21,194,000   milch   cows  at   $30.67   per   head $    650.057,000 

50.073,000  beef  breeds  ai   $lt;.S6  per  head .S45.933.mihi 

54,631,000    sheep    at    $3.SS    per    head 211.736,000 

56,084, bogs    at    $6.05   per    head 339,030,000 

181,982.000  $2,046,761,000 

Neglected  Legislation. 

The  producers  of  this  vast  number  of  animals  representing  the  fabulous 
sum  of   $2,046,761,000,    believe  those  who  represent   the   manufacturing  districts 


COL.    IKE    T.    PRYOR,    San    Antonio.    Texas. 
First    Vice-President. 


OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY 

OF 


TRANS-MISSISSIPPI    COMMERCIAL    CONGRESS  123 

of  the  United  States  have  dominated  and  controlled  hoth  brandies  of  our 
National  Congress  up  to  the  present  time;  hence  the  manufacturers  have 
received  every  possible  consideration  and  protection  Congress  could  granl 
while  the  livestock  interests  have  received  little  favorable  legislation.  In 
fact,  this  great  industry  has  been  sadly  neglected  bv  our  lawmakers;  espe- 
cially is  this   true,   so  far  as  our  foreign   markets   are   concerned. 

I  could  take  up  the  entire  afternoon  telling  you  how  we  have  losl  our 
foreign    trade,    but   time   is   precious. 

Livestock   Organization. 

Tou  naturally  ask  why  these  conditions  prevail.  Tt  is  because  of 
the  want  of  proper  organization.  "In  unity  there  is  strength."  The  early 
organization  of  livestock  men  was  principally  for  protection  of  their  herds 
from  depredation  by  thieves  and  matters  of  a  strictly  local  nature.  The 
first  organization  of  this  kind  was  the  Cattle  Raisers'  Association  of  Texas, 
which  was  organized  some  thirty-two  years  ago.  I  had  the  honor  for  three 
years   to   be   the   President   of  this   organization. 

A  few  years  later,  the  Colorado  and  Wyoming  livestock  men  organized 
for  similar  purposes  and  in  many  other  states  and  territories  similar 
organizations   were  perfected. 

Organization   of   American    National    Livestock   Association. 

However,  in  recent  years  it  became  apparent  to  all  thinking  stockmen, 
while  they  were  protecting  their  herds  at  home,  the  legitimate  profits  from 
their  industry  were  being  sacrificed,  because  of  the  lack  of  proper  recipri 
tariff  relations  with  continental  Europe,  whereby  our  surplus  cattle  and 
meat  products  might  be  marketed  abroad,  hence,  all  of  these  various  associa- 
tions formed  one  great  central  organization  known  as  the  American  National 
Livestock  Association,  having  for  one  of  its  purposes  the  securing  of  the 
best   market  outlets. 

Through  this  organization  we  hope  to  be  able  to  secure  such  legislation 
as  will  be  of  material  benefit  and  result  in  permanent  good  to  the  livestock 
interests    of    this    country    in    general    and    the    Trans-Mississippi    district     in 

ti  o  |'t  lf'l  1  1  Q   ?' 

Unquestionably  the  livestock  industry  of  the  Trans-Mississippi  States 
from  a  stand-point  of  commercial  value,  is  second  to  no  branch  or  phase 
of  our  industrial  life,  and  is  entitled  to  greater  consideration  than  it  has 
ever  received  at  the  hands  of  our  law-making  bodies.  There  has  never  been 
a  more  potent  factor  in  the  development,  settlement  and  maintenance  of  the 
Trans-Mississippi  States  than  has  been  the  livestock  industry  in  a  great 
race    for    our    present    and    growing    commercial    supremacy. 

Livestock    Possibilities    Lnder    Favorable    Legislation. 

Not  one  of  the  European  countries  produces  sufficient  meal  to  supply 
the  demand  of  the  people,  while  the  United  States  can  produce  at  bast 
thirty  per  cent  more  than  the  people  now  use,  and  we  are  actually  producing 
at  the  present  time  ten  to  fifteen  per  cent  more  than  we  consume.  Hence 
a  market  must  be  provided  for  this  excess.  In  other  words,  if  we  are  not 
permitted  to  offer  this  surplus  on  equitable  terms  to  continental  Europe, 
the  meat  producers  of  this  country  will  suffer  from  an  oversupplied  market. 
and    the    Trans-Mississippi    district    will    bear    the    principal    burden    of    this 

condition.  ,  „    ,.  ,  ... 

To  illustrate.  I  segregate  and  take  one  class  of  livestock,  viz.,  cattle. 
We  slaughter  about  twenty  million  head  per  annum.  Eighty-live  to  yu  per- 
cent of  these  slaughtered  cattle  is  ample  for  our  home  consumption  leaving 
from  10  to  15  per  cent  surplus  for  which  we  must  secure  a  market.  II  de- 
prived of  this  European  market,  and  forced  to  sell  this  product  at  home,  the 
100  per  cent  would  bring  less  to  the  stockraiser  and  stock  farmer  than  the 
85  per  cent  In  one  instance  there  would  be  a  good  healthy  demand  for  the 
85  ner  cent  while  the  100  per  cent  would  be  forced  on  an  overstocked  and 
s-intted  market  the  result  of  which  would  need  no  prophet  to  foretell. 
The  farmer  and  stockraiser  in  the  Trans-Mississippi  district  would  be  the 
principal   losers    under   such   conditions. 

Meat    Inspection    and    Agricultural    Benefits. 

This  Trans-Mississippi  Congress  will  be  asked  to  pass  certain  resolutions 
endorsing    a    government    policy    of    permanent    benefit,    and    advantageous    to 

thi%tSn;ci^iouslvtediev:e  this  particular  line  of  trade  has  been  seriously 
neglected  heretofore  owing  to  the  want  of  proper  organization  enabling 
thoSse  interestfd  in  the  livestock  industry  to  present  their  gr ■ievances  and 
demand    their    just    rights   before    the   Congress    of    the    United   States. 

Our  Dresent  government  inspection  of  meats  and  meat  products  \\  in  .n 
is  wen  known  in°  all  parts  of  the  world,  should  cause  such  products  to  be 
sought   by  the   people  of  all  meat-eating  countries   of    Europe.      All    the   live- 


124  REPORT    OF    PROCEEDINGS 

stock  producers  ask  is  an  opportunity  to  offer  those  people  their  surplus 
on  equal   terms   with   the   remainder  of   the    world. 

Our  Agricultural  Department  has  accomplished  much  in  the  improve- 
ments it  has  brought  about  in  the  livestock  business.  To  reap  the  full 
benefit,  however,  of  all  this  marked  improvement,  we  must  have  adequate 
laws  looking-  to  the  introduction  of  our  livestock  on  the  hoof,  into  con- 
tinental Europe,  and  not  until  this  is  accomplished  will  we,  the  livestock 
producers  of  this  country  in  general  and  the  Trans-Mississippi  district  in 
particular,    receive    a   fair   price    for    our    products. 

If  conditions  ever  become  such  that  buyers  from  European  countries 
could  be  found  in  our  market  centers  purchasing  livestock  for  shipment  to 
said  countries  to  be  slaughtered  there,  then,  and  not  until  then,  will  the 
livestock  producers  reap  the  full  benefit  of  their  industry  and  prove  a  bless- 
ing   to    the   meat-eating    nations    of   the    world. 

A  steer  on  the  Chicago  market,  today,  that  will  weigh  one  thousand 
pounds  and  sell  for  five  cents  per  pound,  sells  for  a  total  of  fifty  dollars. 
That  same  steer  would  sell  on  the  German  market,  on  the  hoof,  at  twelve 
to  fifteen  cents  per  pound  —  one  hundred  dollars  above  the  price  of  the 
steer  when  sold  in  Chicago.  I  could  ship  that  steer  from  here  to  Antwerp 
and  pay  a  fair  duty  upon  it,  and  make  a  very  large  profit  over  what  can 
be  made  from  selling  it  here.  The  German  people  are  anxious  and  willing 
to  take  this  meat,  if  we  could  make  some  kind  of  trade  relations  by  which 
our    beef    could    be    introduced    there. 

With  special  efforts  along  the  livestock  producing  line,  the  number  of 
animals  produced  in  the  United  States  can  be  doubled,  in  fact,  this  country 
can  produce  sufficient  meat  to  feed  three  times  the  population  of  the  United 
Stales,    if  proper   encouragement   is    given    to    this   particular    line    of   business. 

It  is  within  the  power  of  the  Congress  of  the.  United  States  to  bring 
this  about,  and  with  the  assistance  of  this  organization  we  hope  to  be  able 
to    secure    such    legislation    as    this    great    industry    needs. 

The  point,  gentlemen,  is  this:  I  am  a  cattle  raiser.  I  am  afraid  to  em- 
bark too  largely  in  the  business.  I  am  afraid  to  plan  too  much  ahead,  know- 
ing that  the  European  markets  and  continental  European  markets  are 
getting  away  from  us,  until  we  only  deliver  today  beef  and  some  parts  of 
the  hog  and  no  mutton  into  but  two  countries,  England  and  Belgium.  If 
we  had  suitable  and  reciprocal  laws  that  would  let  us  put  our  beef  into  con- 
tinental Europe,  this  entire  Trans-Mississippi  district,  I  believe,  would 
produce  large  quantities  of  cattle.  Every  farmer,  in  place  of  selling  his 
grain,   would   feed   it   to   his   stock. 

Hence  the  livestock  producers  of  the  Trans-Mississippi  district  will 
demand,  during  the  next  session  of  Congress,  strong  recognition  for  their 
interests  in  the  tariff  revision,  which  will  be  undertaken  in  the  Sixtieth 
Congress,  and  from  this  time  the  livestock  interests,  not  only  of  the  Trans- 
Mississippi  district  but  of  the  entire  United  States,  will  demand  equal  con- 
sideration with  all  other  interests  of  like  importance  in  all  reciprocal 
measures  adopted  by  the  United  States,  and  I  sincerely  trust  this  organiza- 
tion will  impress  upon  those  who  represent  them  in  Congress  the  importance 
and  necessity  of  proper  consideration  for  this  great  industry.  It  is  second 
to  none  in  the  United  States  in  point  of  importance,  because  it  represents 
one   of   the  prime   articles   of   food   products. 

The  great  meat-eating  Anglo-Saxon  race  has  marked  a  pace  in  the 
progress  of  the  world  without  a  parallel  in  the  arts  of  war  and  peace.  Man 
is  essentially  an  animal  of  adaptability  but  naturally  so  constituted  as  to 
require  the   blood  and   nerve   making   qualities   of   animal   food   products. 

Bread  and  meat,  milk  and  eggs,  are  at  last  his  best  and  principal  articles 
of  food  for  the  healthful  system,  all  of  which  the  stock  farmers  produce, 

Among  other  things  which  the  stockmen,  through  their  organizations, 
have  undertaken  is  the  regulation  of  rates  and  service  in  the  transportation 
of  livestock,  so  integral  a  part  of  the  business.  The  Interstate  Commerce 
Commission  found  it  to  be  a  fact  that  in  case  of  cattle,  the  entire  trans- 
port:! i  ion  cost  is  equivalent  to  one-seventh  of  the  value  of  the  animals  for 
the   far   Western   States. 

To  no  set  of  men  or  organization  was  so  much  owing  as  to  the  stockmen 
in  securing  the  Hepburn  law.  Experience  has  shown  the  necessity  of 
amendments.  Advances  in  rates  with  no  adequate  means  of  prevention  sug- 
gests that  the  commission  be  authorized  to  prevent  advances  being  made 
except  where  first  found  reasonable.  It  is  imperative  that  it  be  done  for 
the  benefit  of  all  shippers  as  well  as  stockmen.  The  meaning  of  that  is, 
if  the  railroads  want  to  advance  the  rate  of  freight  on  any  product,  they 
should  submit  that  to  the  Interstate  Commerce  Commission  before  the  rate 
is   promulgated. 

And  again,  stockmen  have  lost  millions  Of  dollars  by  poor  service,  both 
bv  failure  and  delays  in  supplying  cars  and  slow  time  en  route.  Both  of  these 
abuses   it   is   the   duty   of   the   railroads    to   overcome.      The    loss   does   not   inure 


TRANS-MISSISSIPPI    COMMERCIAL    CONGRESS  125 

to  them,  it  is  wasted  wealth,  the  producl   of  labor.     Unless  forced  by   suitable 
laws  to  do  it,  there  will  he  no  considerable  relief 

Congress  should  enact   such   laws. 

Again,   in  rate  controversies  the  value  of  the   railroad   pr :rty   is  always 

considered  and  the  shipper  is  at  great  disadvantage  because  he  has 
record  to  point  to,  to  show  it,  except  in  a  few  states.  This  should  be  remedied 
by  giving  the  Commission  power  to  fix  those  values,  so  when  the  matter  is 
important  it  can  be  known.  And  if  the  people  generally  are  to  invest  monej 
in  railroad  securities,  they  must  know  the  value  of  tiie  propertv  on  which 
securities  are  issued  and  that  they  are  not  dealing'  in   inflated   values. 

Neither  can  we  otherwise  certainly  do  justice  to  the  railroads  which 
each    and   all   of   us   at   all    times   desire. 

_     In  all   these  matters  the   stockmen   lead  the   fight  and   wanl    to   co-operate 
with  you.     There  is  work  enough  and  glory  enough  for  all. 

Appropriate  resolutions  have  already  been  introduced,  and  are  now 
in  the  hands  of  the  Resolutions  Committee.  Those  resolutions  touch  up  m 
every  subject  mentioned  in  this  address.  I  hope  that,  if  some  of  t 
resolutions  are  reported  back  to  this  convention,  they  will  he  adopted, 
because  they  have  been  carefully  prepared  and  introduced  by  a  man  \\  ho 
understands  the  needs  of  the  livestock  interests.  I  have  made  a  lifetime 
study  of  them  and  do   not  believe  that  I  am  wrong  in  my  conclusions. 

I  thank   you   for  your  kind  attention.      (Applause.) 

Mr.  O.  H.  Miller,  of  Sacramento,  Cal.: 

Mr.  Chairman:  I  think  it  is  only  fit  and  proper  at  this  time  thai  we 
should  take  some  action  endorsing  the  kind  treatment  that  has  been  accorded 
this  Congress  by  the  press  of  San  Francisco  and  by  the  press  of  this  State, 
and  I  therefore  offer  this  resolution: 

RESOLVED,  That  this  Congress  is  deeply  indebted  to  the  press  of  San 
Francisco,  and  also  to  the  Associated  Press  and  the  United  Press,  for  the 
complete,  truthful  and  valuable  reports  of  the  deliberations  of  this  Congress, 
and  the  thanks  of  the  Trans-Mississippi  Commercial  Congress  are  extended 
to    the    press    and    their    representatives. 

Mr.  O.  H.   Miller,  of  Sacramento: 

The  resolution  was  referred  to  the  Committee  on  Resolutions. 

I  have  another  resolution,  Mr.  President,  which,  with  your  permission, 
I  would  like  to  introduce  at  this  time.  I  might  say  that  these  resolutions 
were  introduced  before  the  time  for  introducing  resolutions  closed,  or  were 
so  declared  by  the  President  of  this  Congress,  but  I  desire  to  talk  for  just 
a  few  moments  especially  upon  these  resolutions. 

President  Smith: 

I  desire  to  say  that  we  do  not  want  the  members  to  get  an  idea  that  this 
means  the  drawing  to  a  close  of  the  Congress.  It  was  done  as  a  matter  of 
courtesy,  so  that  the  committees  might  pass  upon  these  things  and  then  have 
them  come  up  in  their  regular  order  afterwards. 

IMTED    STATES    GEOLOGICAL    SURVEY. 
By    O.    H.    Miller,    Sacramento,    California: 

RESOLVED    That  in  the  United   States  Geological   Survey   this   Nation    has 
a    hureau    that    has    been    and    is    gathering    absolutely    necessary    data    ,d 
estimable    value    that    is    required    in    the    study    of    the    best    methods    to    be 
Imploved    in    bringing    into    the    highest    degree    of    usefulness    the    unlimited 

^Tl^Tu^tt'sly^^fflw^oMs  in  support  of  the  w..rk  of  the 
United^afes'GeoSgictl  Survey  in  this  State,  that  being  the  subject  of  the 
last  resolution.  I  hardly  think  it  is  necessary  for  me  ake  any  en- 
dorsement of  that  magnificent  bureau  of  the  United  Sta  ,  .  The  work  of 
the  United  States  Geological  Survey  is  known  from  one  end  of  t  hi S  country 
to  the  other  Perhaps  it  is  one  of  the  great  influential  ami  one  ol  <■■•  mosl 
mpirtan  bureaus  we  have  in  the  United  State,  today .California^  is >„. 
operating  with  the  Geological  Survey  in  the  carrying  on .of  this  worl 
this    State.      Many    of    the    Pacific    States    contemplate    s  Ion    In     ti  . 

ne.fr  Xture       PerWs    ^^Sn^TS^  SStiS    ■' 

trees'  of  tS^ited^atS'u  ^ettirely   necessary    before  ^  at  any 
importance"  can    be    carried    out,    that    an    immense    amount    oi     data    relate 


126  REPORT    OF    PROCEEDINGS 

to  the  many  features  of  our  country  must  be  gathered  before  anything 
can  be  done.  This  work  is  being  done  by  the  United  States  Geological 
Survey,  and  it  is  being  done  well  and  accurately.  The  time  will  come 
when  this  work  will  be  of  much  more  value  than  it  is  at  the  present  time, 
although    it    is    now    almost    indispensable.       I     thank     you.       (Applause.) 

President  Smith: 

I  have  now  the  pleasure  of  introducing  to  you  Honorable  Fletcher  E. 
Cutler,  of  Eureka,  California,  who  will  speak  to  you  upon  "The  Future 
Greatness  of  California."     (Applause.) 

THE    FUTURE    GREATNESS    OF    CALIFORNIA. 

By  Judge   Fletcher   E.   Cutler. 
By  .Turtle   Cutler,  Eureka: 

Mr.  President,  and  Gentlemen  of  the  Trans-Mississippi  Commercial 
Congress: 

I  am  commissioned  by  my  people  of  the  North  Coast  Counties  to  extend 
to  you  their  hearty  greetings  with  assurances  that  they  are  in  full  accord 
with    your    Congress,    and    they    wish    you    a    successful    and    profitable    session. 

With  pardonable  pride  and  the  modesty  for  which  the  native  Californian 
is  renowned,  I  deem  it  a  privilege  to  address  you  on  a  subject  fraught  with 
great    import   to   my    fellow-citizens. 

You  are  standing  today  on  historic  ground.  Within  sight  and  sound 
are  the  waters  in  which  Balboa  baptized  the  royal  flag  of  Spain  as  he  claimed 
its  hordering  land  for  his  Sovereign  Crown.  To  the  northward,  beneath 
the  cliffs  of  Point  Reyes,  Sir  Francis  Drake  dreamed  of  England's  sway  as 
he  furled  his  sails  in  a  haven  of  refuge.  Within  a  league  beyond  stands  the 
remnants  of  a  Russian  settlement,  colonized,  flourished  and  passed  away. 
Scattered  through  Southern  valleys  and  plains,  adobe  haciendas  tell  of  the 
day  when  the  Mexican  dreamed  his  life  away  with  no  thought  of  the  Gringo's 
coming.  Here  in  the  very  center  of  our  City  today,  the  then  Yerba  Buena. 
nestling  down  amid  towering  structures,  the  haunts  of  busy  men,  stand 
the  crumbling  walls  of  the  Mission  Dolores,  a  silent  reminder  of  the  time 
when  the  holy  chant  of  the  devoted  Padres  called  the  red  man  to  the  foot 
of  the  cross.  Turning  to  the  south,  on  the  shores  of  old  Monterey,  is  the 
mast  head  where  Sloat  signalized  the  passing  of  the  old  and  the  coming 
of  the  new  California,  typified  and  crystalized  in  the  enduring  folds  of  the 
American  Flag.  In  sight  of  our  State  Capitol  is  the  spot  where  Marshall, 
examining  the  glittering  substance  which  he  held  in  his  hand,  pronounced  it 
gold.  The  echo  of  his  words  was  borne  on  the  winds  to  the  four  quarters 
of  the  globe,  bringing  into  our  State  a  sweeping  tide  of  immigration  unparal- 
leled in  the  history  of  the  world.  High  up  in  the  Sierras,  surrounded  by  pine 
fringed  ridges,  is  Donner  Lake,  where  children  died,  women  wept  and  men 
suffered,  typical  of  the  hardships  endured 'by  the  pioneers  in  their  onward 
rush   to   the  new   El   Dorado.      (Applause.) 

In  the  older  states,  marble  shaft  and  studied  story  serve  as  reminders 
of  historic  places  and  patriotic  deeds.  We  examine  each  event  crowned  with 
historical  fame.  We  hallow  each  battlefield  consecrated  with  the  blood  of 
freemen,  who  fought  and  died  in  liberty's  cause.  We  revere  each  statesman 
and  patriot  whose  lives  typified  in  the  highest  degree  the  lofty  ideals  of 
American  citizenship.  We  are  again  with  the  Pilgrim  at  Plymouth  Rock  as 
he  religously  dedicates  the  virgin  soil  to  Christian  enterprise.  We  see  set- 
tlements appear  and  become  merged  into  colonies,  colonies  into  states  and 
states  into  a  union.  In  reading  any  part  of  the  history  of  our  country  every 
patriotic  impulse  quickens  at  the  recital  of  its  ever  increasing  growth  and 
expansion,  but  no  part  awakens  a  greater  interest  than  that  dealing  with 
the  reclamation  of  the  country  west  of  the  Mississippi.  In  its  transition  from 
the  wilderness  to  the  habitation  of  man.  from  the  territory  to  the  state, 
with  the  consequent  blessings  bestowed  upon  the  human  family,  it  reveals 
a  period  of  time  replete  with  courageous  deeds  performed  by  a  race  of  men 
whose  like  will  never  come  again.  Cavalier  and  Puritan,  Quaker  and 
Knickerbocker,  have  each  appeared  and  disappeared  and  left  the  imprint 
of  his  character  within  the  environments  of  his  time,  but  the  Argonauts 
who  journeyed  on  toward  the  setting  sun  pioneered  a  pathway  which  today 
is  covered  by  cities,  states  and  commonwealths  that  stand  as  monuments  to 
their  deathless  fame  and  dauntless  courage.  There  are  characters  that  stand 
out  in  the  history  of  our  country  that  invoke  and  merit  the  applause  of  a 
grateful  people,  but  partly  because  one  whose  name  I  bear  lived,  suffered 
and  died  in  the  upbuilding  of  this  great  West,  I  seek  my  inspiration  in  the 
ideals  of  the  lives  of  the  r.oones,  of  Kentucky;  the  Houston s,  of  Texas;  Lewis 
and  Clark,  of  Oregon;  the  Fremonts,  Sutters  and  great  pathfinders  of  the 
Rockies.       (Applause.)       These    men,    in    their    lives    and    in    their    deeds,    ex- 


FLETCHER  E.   CUTLER,   Eureka,   California. 


V 


■^ff_Ai*ir 


OF 


THE 


unwept* 


of 


TRANS-MISSISSIPPI    COMMERCIAL    CONGRESS  127 

emplified  the  spirit,  courage  and  progress  that  have  ever  characterized  the 
people  of  the  great  West.  There  is  a  freedom  in  the  boundless  prairies  a 
reverence  in  the  mountains,  an  inspiration  in  the  valleys  that  makes  a 
people  independent,  resolute  and  strong  in  their  vigorous  life  rearing  a 
high  type  of  manhood  whose  every  effort  is  for  the  communitv.  the  state 
and  the  Nation.  It  is  such  a  people  who  have  gathered  here  today  to  discuss 
and  deliberate  upon  great  questions  which  affect  the  present  and  shape  the 
future.  In  the  past  you  have  dealt  with  many  problems  which,  while  local 
to  a  certain  extent,  yet  were  far  reaching  in  their  results.  So  it  Is  with  the 
subject  assigned  to  me  today — "The  Future  Greatness  of  California."  While 
it  may  appear  to  be  a  question  of  local  concern,  yet  in  view  of  recent  stir- 
ring events  that  have  occurred  to  the  westward,  inextricably  wedded  to  its 
future   greatness   is  the  destiny   of  the   Pacific   States. 

It  has  been  aptly  said  of  California  that  were  she  suddenly  rent  from  the 
mainland  and  made  an  isle  of  the  sea,  yet  there  would  be  found  within  her 
confines  everything  needful  to  make  a  people  great,  either  fully  developed 
or  a  living  germ  in  her  sustaining  breast.  On  her  mountain  tops  are  stored 
aerial  treasures  of  snow,  the  source  of  ever-living  streams  threading  their 
way  through  valleys  and  plains,  fructifying  the  earth  with  the  flowers  and 
fruit  of  every  zone.  Out  of  the  great  southland  comes  the  fragrance  of 
groves  where  the  olive,  lemon  and  orange  hang  thick  and  ripen  in  the 
mellow  sulight.  Its  Los  Angeles,  modern,  great  and  populous,  reclaimed  from 
the  arid  wastes,  a  tribute  to  the  genius  of  man.  Santa  Clara,  with  its 
orchards,  where  the  downy  peach  nods  to  the  rosy  apple,  a  veritable  valley 
of  the  Nile.  The  vine  clad  hills  of  Sonoma  and  Napa,  where  the  juicy  grape 
fills  the  wineries  to  overflowing.  The  Sacramento  and  San  Joaquin  Valleys. 
where  the  waving  plumes  of  the  golden  grain  await  the  annual  harvest. 
Mendocino,  Humboldt  and  Del  Norte,  those  gems  of  the  north,  with  their 
matchless  forests  of  giant  redwood  nourished  by  the  abundant  rains  and 
blanketing  fogs  of  that  region,  forming  a  heritage  of  lumber  products  un- 
rivaled on  the  globe,  adding  an  ever  increasing  stream  to  the  swelling 
current  of  commerce  on  the  Pacific;  with  their  hills  and  valleys  constantly 
greened  by  the  same  beneficent  moisture  from  Nature's  own  system,  and 
covered  with  the  countless  flocks  and  herds  of  the  dairymen  and  the  stock 
farmer.  Prom  the  mother  lode,  teeming  with  precious  metals,  comes  the 
echo  of  the  ceaseless  stamps  of  the  quartz  mill  mingling  with  the  ring  <>f 
the  woodsman's  axe  in  the  forest.  Electricity,  generated  in  the  waterfalls 
of  the  Sierras,  transmitting  motor  power,  light  and  heat  to  village. 
hamlet  and  city.  Gushing  oil  wells,  displacing  coal  and  feeding  glowing 
furnaces  in  factory,  mill  and  shop.  With  industry  encouraged,  labor  gen- 
erously rewarded,  capital  safeguarded,  we  behold  a  people  dwelling  in  the 
Biblical  description  of  the  Land  of  Promise: 

"A  land  of  brooks,  of  water,  of  fountains  and  depths  that  spring  out  of 
the  vallevs  and  hills:  a  land  of  wheat  and  barley  and  vines  and  fig  trees;  a 
land  of  oil  and  honey  wherein  they  should  eat  bread  without  scarceness 
and  should   not  lack  any   good   thing." 

In  comparison  with  the  thickly  settled  portions  of  Europe  and  the 
Atlantic  States  in  this  country,  it  must  be  admitted  that  the  Trans-Missis- 
sippi States  suffer  in  point  of  great  manufacturing  enterprises.  This  may  be 
readily  ascribed,  firstly,  to  the  wide  intervals  of  undeveloped  country, 
secondly  to  the  great  natural  resources  of  this  world-wide,  wonderful  region, 
and  which  has  tempted  the  settler  and  investor  to  pursue  agricultural, 
horticultural,  stock  and  mining  pursuits.  The  localization  of  manufactures 
has  always  been  due  to  the  availability  of  raw  material,  the  accessibility  of 
markets,  the  utilization  of  power,  favorable  climate,  the  supply  of  labor.  All 
of  these  exist  to  a  marked  degree  within  the  limits  of  the  state  of  (aliform.. 
With  her  copper,  grain,  oil,  minerals,  lumber,  hides,  wool,  vegetables,  fruit. 
and  vinous  liquor,  her  water-power  streams  rushing  forth  from  every 
mountain  side,  her  fuel  drawn  from  unlimited  oil  fields,  her  health-giving 
equable  climate,  attracting  alike  the  laborer  and  the  home  seeker,  with  the 
markets  of  the  world  brought  within  easy  reach  by  rail  and  water  — all 
of  these  conditions  cannot  fail  in  time  to  cause  California  to  be  numbered  as 
one   of   the   leading  manufacturing   states   of   the   Union.      (Applause.) 

A  land  thus  favored  cannot  remain  provincial.  Its  surplus  products  must 
needs  find  markets  beyond  its  confines,  administering  to  the  eve,  ncreasing 
demands  and  necessities  of  people  of  other  climes.  California .is i  essentially 
a  commercial  and  manufacturing  state,  made  so  by  the  laws  of  Nature,  and 
whether    it    be    "manifest    destiny"    or    "providential    decree,      she    will   t me 


statistician    ana    me   rauiu   ui   mc   i..^.-. • --—  •         „  *,-  "j„,         \\        He..    In 

and    quick   means   of   transportation    the    railroads   have   afforded       We .live .in 
an   age    when    speed   becomes    the    essence    of   our   being.      We    are   demanding 


128  REPORT    OF    PROCEEDINGS 

today  more  extensions,  greater  facilities  ami  quicker  returns  than  ever 
before.  The  great  trans-continental  systems  that  have  annihilated  space 
and  time;  that  have  welded  state  to  slate;  that  have  brought  each  com- 
munity in  touch  with  the  country's  development  and  advancement,  must  be 
recognized  as  one  of  the  material  forces  engaged  in  upbuilding  the  interests 
we    represent    and    broadening   our    sphere    of   action. 

For  many  years  our  people,  in  season  and  out  of  season,  petitioned, 
resolved  and  implored  for  a  waterway  connecting  the  Pacific  with  the 
Atlantic.  To  reach  the  great  ports  of  the  Southern  and  Eastern  States  by 
means  of  quick  and  cheap  water  transportation  was  the  object  in  view. 
Today,  in  common  with  their  fellow  countrymen,  they  have  cause  to  rejoice, 
for  the  Panama  Canal  is  an  assured  fact.  The  work  that  is  now  being  done 
in  the  Canal  Zone  is  only  indicative  of  the  progressive  spirit  and  genius  of 
the  American  people  when  once  united  and  aroused.  However  much  the 
pessimist  grieved  and  the  fatalist  prophesied,  this  work  has  progressed  with 
a  faithfulness  and  a  rapidity  that  has  challenged  the  admiration  of  the  world. 
Quietly,  swiftly  and  without  ostentation,  our  engineers  have  accomplished 
that  Which  the  French  were  unable  to  cope  with  and  are  now  willing  to 
concede  that  the  Canal  will  be  finished  within  the  time  of  the  original 
estimates.  On  the  occasion  of  its  completion  there  will  ascend  from  these 
shores  an  anthem  of  praise  from  a  people  who  realize  the  immeasurable 
benefits  that  will  flow  to  them  from  the  success  of  this  undertaking  in  es- 
tablishing closer  communication  with  the  central  markets  of  the  country; 
in  adding  stimulus  to  an  ever-expanding  domestic  trade;  in  gaining  an  in- 
creased and  permanent  population;  in  developing  magnificent  resources;  in 
quickening  the  pulse  of  our  common  life:  in  uniting  all  sections  of  our 
country    in    fraternal    and    commercial    bonds. 

But  even  as  successful  as  has  been  the  exploitation  of  home  markets  by 
California,  yet  by  reason  of  the  commanding  position  she  occupies  geograph- 
ically, greater  triumphs  await  her  in  foreign  markets  across  the  waters. 
Amid  swiftly  changing  scenes  the  theater  of  events  has  been  transferred. 
Yesterday  it  was  a  question  of  the  annexation  of  Hawaii,  followed  by  that 
of  the  retention  of  the  Philippines.  The  dismemberment  of  China  and  the 
open  door  policy  have  been  forgotten  in  the  all-absorbing  question  of  today 
whether  or  not  the  Mongolian  race  shall  triumph  over  the  Caucasian  in  tin- 
Far  East.  Threading  its  way  amid  isles  of  the  sea.  now  buffeting  the  waves, 
now  riding  in  the  ports  of  friendly  nations  bearing  tidings  of  peace  on  earth, 
good  will  to  men,  the  great  navy  of  our  country,  freighted  with  human  hopes 
and  human  prayers,  and  manned  by  willing  hands  and  loyal  hearts,  spreading 
the  gospel  of  our  flag  and  all  it  represents,  is  opening  a  pathway  of  com- 
merce pregnant  with  possibilities  far  beyond  the  power  of  human  mind  to 
comprehend.  (Applause.)  The  people  of  our  State  are  conscious  of  this 
new-horn  opportunity  and  are  now  resolutely  engaged  in  preparing  to  enter 
the  competitive  lists  where  every  producing  nation  on  earth  will  be  a  rival 
for  the  alluring  commercial  prizes.  The  great  harbors  that  Providence  has 
so  generously  strewn  along  our  coast  line,  San  Diego,  San  Pedro.  Monterey, 
Santa  Cruz.  San  Francisco  and  Humboldt,  were  in  the  very  nature  of  things 
designed  to  accommodate  the  commerce  that  now  knocks  at  our  door.  (Ap- 
plause.) At  the  threshold  of  our  endeavors,  however,  we  are  again  con- 
fronted with  the  ever-present  question  of  transportation.  A  great  and 
growing  merchant  marine  that  should  be  the  pride  and  glory  of  the  American 
people  exists  only  in  the  dream  of  the  American  manufacturers,  producers 
and  exporters.  (Applause.)  While  other  nations  are  legislating  favorably 
toward  the  support  of  direct  means  of  communication  by  steamship  and 
sailing  lines  to  distant  countries,  we  are  laggards  in  the  procession  and 
depend  entirely  upon  foreign  bottoms  to  cultivate  and  attend  our  com- 
menial  interests.  Even  as  I  speak,  three  great  ocean  going  steamers,  built 
and  owned  by  Californians,  lie  idly  anchored  in  our  harbor,  compelled  to 
retreat  from  the  world's  race  for  trade  in  the  Orient  by  reason  of  the  with- 
drawal of  Government  aid.  There  must  be  a  change  in  our  policy  towards 
merchant  marine.  There  must  be  a  more  liberal  spirit  manifested  in 
encouraging  those  who  only  ask  a  fail'  field  and  equal  chance  in  competing 
for  a  share  of  foreign  trade.  (Applause.)  Our  flag  (lies  in  the  skies  of  the 
Orient,  and  if  the  ( 'oust  it  ut  ion  follows  the  flag,  it  .necessarily  includes  the 
proposition  that  trade  should  also  follow  the  flag]  for  without  trade  the 
Constitution  would  not  have  an  opportunitj  to  confer  its  benefits  ami  bless- 
ings u|. on  its  own  people.  Today  the  Pacific  •  ' oast  is  bereft  of  carriers 
built,  owned  and  manned  by  Americans,     if  California  is  to  forge  to  the  front 

and     assume     a     position     making     lor     the     nucleus    of     the     bordering     states     in 

importing  ami  exporting  greal  cargoes,  then  give  to  us  the  legislation  that 
will  cause  these  Pacific  waters  to  be  filled  with  ocean  greyhounds  enrolled 
at  our  Custom  Houses,  filled  with  California  fruits,  flour,  cereals,  machinery, 
canned  goods,  breads  tuffs,  lumber  and  manufactured  products,  and  there  is 
ei gh  Yankee  blood  in  our  veins  to  out-trade  any  people  on  earth.  (Ap- 
plause) 


TRANS-MISSISSIPPI    COMMERCIAL    CONGRESS  129 

_  Because  I  have  faith  in  the  American  people  I  believe  that  this  and 
similiar  problems  will  be  met  and  solved  in  the  spirit  which  has  ever  animated 
them  in  keeping-  pace  with  the  worlds  forward  movements.  Then  will  the 
future  greatness  of  California  be  revealed  in  the  commanding  position  she 
will  occupy  as  the  arbiter  of  affairs  in  the  Western  Hemisphere.  I  think  a 
wondrous  vision  of  surpassing  splendor  passes  before  inc.  I  see  a  land 
golden  in  tradition,  resources  and  opportunities,  draining  the  wealth  of  all 
countries  into  her  industries  and  treasuries;  her  broad  domain  pulsating 
With  the  energetic  life  of  myriads  of  people;  glowing  furnaces;  whirling 
mills;  cities  veritable  hives  of  industry;  manufacturers  emptying  their  prod 
ucts  into  the  channels  of  trade;  commerce  stimulated  by  resources  in  every 
stage  Of  development;  her  harbors  the  open  gateways  through  whirl]  pass 
and  repass  messengers  of  the  sea  laden  with  precious  stores;  her  glistening 
streams  caught  up  and  serving  the  use  of  the  artisan,  are  again  directed 
over  mother  earth  to  enrich  and  nurture  the  soil;  churches  teaching  every 
faith;  her  universities  the  center  of  the  world's  thought  and  learning;  her 
sons  and  daughters  walking  hand  and  hand  down  the  pathway  of  life  dower- 
ing the  State  with  a  citizenship  worthy  of  the  pioneers  of  old.  From  the 
silver  tinted  veins  of  the  Sierras  over  which  softly  falls  the  lingering  sunset's 
glow  to  the  restless  sea  beyond,  crimsoned  with  its  golden  hues  there  is 
exposed  to  view  a  land  blessed  with  the  munificent  gifts  of  a  generous  Creator 
and  loved  and  cherished  by  a  grateful  people.      (Prolonged  applause.) 

President   Smith: 

I  have  now  the  pleasure,  gentlemen,  of  introducing  to  you  Honorable 
Robert  T.  Devlin,  attorney  of  the  Sacramento  Drainage  Commission,  and 
United  States  District  Attorney  for  the  Northern  District  of  the  state  of 
California.     (Applause.) 

"DRAINAGE,"    BY    HON.    ROBERT    T.    DEVLIN,    IT.    S.    DISTRICT    ATTORNEY 

OF   THE   NORTHERN   DISTRICT   OF    CALIFORNIA. 
By   Mr.   Devlin,   Sacramento: 

Ladies  and  Gentlemen,  Members  of  the  Trans-Mississippi  Commercial 
Congress:  I  desire  to  have  a  few  moments  of  your  attention  in  laying  before 
you  some  of  the  conditions  that  confront  those  who  live  in  the  Sacramento 
Valley,  and  of  the  plans  we  have  in  view  for  the  reclamation  of  vast 
quantities  of  land  now  inundated,  and  for  the  purpose  of  preserving  the  lands 
that  now  are  fertile  and  adapted   to   cultivation. 

Prior  to  the  acquisition  of  California  by  the  American  people,  when  it 
was  a  part  of  Mexico,  the  Sacramento  River  and  its  tributaries  ran  in  well 
defined  channels,  beneath  high  banks,  and  scarcely,  or  only  at  rare  intervals, 
did  the  rivers  overflow  their  banks.  Owing  to  many  causes  which  I  shall  not 
at  this  time  mention  or  attempt  to  enumerate,  this  great  region  is  subject 
to  annual  overflows,  and  at  times,  at  constantly  recurring  periods,  the 
overflows  become  so  fast  that  large  quantities  of  land  are  destroyed,  and 
for  the  time  being,  and  sometimes  for  eternity,  rendered  completely  valueless. 

The  Sacramento  River  is  navigable  for  four  months  in  the  year  for  a 
distance  of  326  miles,  and  during  the  balance  of  the  year  for  217  miles.  In 
1904,  one  of  those  great  floods  occurred,  and  thousands  and  thousands  of 
acres  of  land  were  flooded,  men  who  had  worked  from  their  infancy  for  the 
privilege  of  acquiring  a  competence  saw*  themselves  facing  bankruptcy,  banks 
and  money-loaning  institutions  that  had  mortgages  saw  themselves  in 
danger,  and  whole  communities  that  prior  to  that  disastrous  flood  were 
prosperous,  saw  themselves  in  danger.  Then  it  was  that  the  whole  state  of 
California  recognized  that  some  steps  must  be  taken  for  the  purpose  of 
averting-    these    dangers    forever. 

These  floods  occurred  in  March  and  April  of  1904,  and  In  the  month 
following,  the  month  of  May,  a  convention  of  over  four  hundred  delegates 
met  in  San  Francisco  for  the  purpose  of  considering  the  situation  then  con- 
fronting them.  Out  of  that  association  was  formed  the  River  improvement 
and  Drainage  Association  of  California.  They  met,  they  realized  the  dangers 
that  beset  them,  and  determined  to  adopt  such  means  as  lay  in  their  power 
to  prevent  their  recurrence  in  the  future.  They  called  to  their  aid  three 
of  the  most  eminent  engineers  in  the  United  States.  Major  Dabney,  of  .Missis- 
sippi who  had  charge  of  the  work  in  the  Yazoo  basin  in  .Mississippi.  Henry 
G  Richardson  of  Louisiana,  and  very  lately  chief  engineer  of  that  State,  and 
Major  Chittenden  of  the  Corps  of  Engineers  of  the  Tinted  States  Army. 
Those  gentlemen  made  an  exhaustive  study  of  the  conditions  peculiar  to  the 
Sacramento  and  San  Joaquin  Valleys,  they  made  an  elaborate  report  to  the 
Commissioner  of  Public  Works,  recommending  certain  work  to  be  done  that 
I  shall  not  take  the  time  to  describe  in  detail  now.  but  it  was  then  contem- 
plated  that    three    parties   in    interest    should   join    in   a   common    plan,    to    wit. 


130  REPORT    OF    PROCEEDINGS 

t bo    United    States    Government    as    one    party,    the    state    of    California    as    a 
second   party,  and   the  body  of  land  owners  as  the  third  party. 

As  you  are  all  aware,  it  is  the  duty  of  the  Federal  Government,  the 
function  of  the  Federal  Government,  to  preserve  and  promote  the  naviga- 
bility of  its  streams.  In  the  early  days  of  California,  immense  vessels  thai 
came  around  the  Horn  passed  up  through  the  bay  of  San  Francisco  and 
laud.  .1  at  Sacramento.  At  the  present  time,  such  a  thing  is  not  practicable. 
The  United  States  Government  lias  not  given  to  the  streams  of  California 
that  attention  that  their  importance  deserves.  There  is  a  duty  resting  on 
the  State,  because  it  is  a  function  of  the  State  and  a  duty  of  the  State  to 
permit  drainage  and  to  help  in  a  work  when  it  goes  beyond  the  ability  of 
those  directly  affected  to  cope  with  it.  Then  there  is  a  duty  resting  on  the 
land  owners,  because  they  are  going  to  receive  from  the  prosecution  and 
completion  of  this  work  a  direct  benefit.  Therefore,  by  common  consent  of 
all  interested,  the  United  States  authorities  recognizing  their  obligations, 
the  state  of  California  recognizing  its  obligations,  and  the  land  holders 
recognizing  their  obligations,  and  being  willing  to  bear  their  portion  of  the 
burden,  steps  were  taken  for  the  purpose  of  bringing  this  plan  to  a  fruition. 
The  first  step  taken  was  to  secure  from  California  the  passage  of  a  bill 
providing  for  what  is  known  as  the  Sacramento  Drainage  Commission. 
authorizing  this  commission  to  act  in  co-operation  with  the  Federal  Govern- 
ment. Unfortunately,  for  us.  nothing  has  yet  been  done  by  the  Federal 
Government.  We  hope,  however,  that  you  members  of  this  Congress  will  see 
the  justice  of  our  cause  and  will  recognize  that  where  we  ourselves  are  willing  to 
bear  one-third  of  the  expense,  where  the  state  of  California  is  willing  to 
bear  another  one-third  of  the  expense,  that  the  Nation  ought  to  be  able  to 
contribute  the  other  third,  as  we  here  are  putting  up  two  against  one. 
( Applause.) 

There  is  a  bill  now  pending  in  Congress,  providing  for  the  appropriation 
of  $400,000  to  aid  in  dredging  out  these  rivers  and  taking  out  some  of  the  detritus 
and  debris  deposited  there  in  ages  past.  This  bill  carries  with  it  the  con- 
dition that  it  shall  not  become  effective  unless  a  like  appropriation  is  made 
by  the  state  of  California.  So  we  in  the  Sacramento  Valley  and  in  the  San 
Joaquin  Valley  as  well,  because  I  speak  more  particularly  of  the  Sacramento 
as  I  am  more  familiar  with  it,  are  proceeding  upon  the  theory  that  we  expect 
ourselves  to  bear  a  large  portion  of  the  burden,  we  do  not  expect  the  National 
Government  to  come  to  our  relief  and  to  take  us  out  of  our  swamp,  so  to 
speak,  of  dismay  and  trouble;  we  are  willing  to  help  ourselves.  But  we  feel 
the  task  before  us  is  too  great  to  be  borne  by  us  alone,  and  we  place  our 
case,  not  upon  the  basis  of  charity,  but  upon  the  basis  of  justice,  asking  the 
National  Government  to  contribute  what  may  be  a  fair  proportion  of  the 
total  expense. 

In  11108,  a  body  of  United  States  engineers  visited  the  Sacramento  River 
and  the  Sacramento  Valley,  and  made  an  examination,  resulting  in  their  report 
to  their  Chief  engineer,  and  by  him  transmitted  to  Congress,  that  a  more 
perfeel  and  a  more  detailed  report  should  be  made  of  the  Sacramento  River 
for  the  purpose  of  determining  what  it  would  cost  to  have  at  Sacramento  City 
an  average  depth  of  9  feet  or  12  feet  or  15  feet  of  water. 

I  know  in  the  limited  time  at  my  disposal,  I  cannot  expect  to  take  up  this 
subject  in  detail.  But  I  may  say,  as  you  are  familiar,  undoubtedly,  with  the 
general  subject,  that  the  best  regulator  of  railroad  transportation  ever 
imagined  or  ever  conceived,  is  a  river  that  runs  parallel  with  the  railroad. 
For  instance,  there  are  thirty-four  counties  in  California  that  are  influenced, 
so  far  as  rates  of  transportation  are  concerned,  by  the  Sacramento  and  San 
Joaquin  Rivers,  and  those  thirty-tour  counties  embrace  78,000  square  miles, 
or  more  than  50,000,000  acres  of  land,  the  assessed  valuation  of  which  is 
$sio.ooo,ooo.  within  the  zone  of  the  influence  of  those  rivers,  the  Sacramento 
and  San  Joaquin  rivers,  there  is  an  annual  product  of  over  $200,000,000.  The 
amount  of  tonnage  in  1906  upon  the  Sacramento  and  San  Joaquin  and  Napa 
rivers  was  1,684,596  tons.  I  think  it  is  fair  to  say  that  there  Is  at  least  a  dif- 
ference of  one  dollar  a  ton  in  the  freight  rates,  owing  to  the  fad  that  these 
rivers  afford  rapid  and  easy  transportation  for  the  products  in  their  zones. 
So  you  can  see  the  great  dividend  that  at  the  present  time  they  pay  to  the 
farmers  and  producers  of  California.  If  they  are  still  further  improved,  thej 
will  pay  a  larger  dividend,  not  only  in  regulating  transportation  charges,  but 
also  by  bringing  into  existence  thousands  and  thousands  of  acres  of  land  as 
fertile  as  any  on  the  globe,  yei  now  covered  with  water  and  practically 
1  ••  tiden  d    valueless    and    unprofitable. 

There  has  been  a  time  in  our  history  when  those  in  charge  of  our  gov- 
ernment thought  every  dollar  wasted  that  did  not  bring  in  an  immediate 
return.  Hut  we  have  passed  beyond  that  period.  We  have  now  grown  so 
great,  so  strong,  we  have  passed  the  primary  period  of  American  life,  and 
we  now   recogniz.-   that    it   is   our  duty,   not  only  as   a    matter   of   patriot. sm.   hut 


TRANS-MISSISSIPPI    COMMERCIAL    CONGRESS  131 

as  a  matter  of  business,  to  encourage  all  of  our  enterprises  to  develop  our 
resources  and  make  two  blades  of  grass  grow  where  one  grew  before.  We 
recognize  that  the  work  the  Government  has  done  in  reclaiming  thousands  of 
acres  of  arid  land  has  been  of  vast  benefit,  not  only  to  the  stairs  where  thai 
land  is  situated,  but  also  to  all  the  people  of  the  United  state.-.  We  recognize 
that  you  cannot  benefit  California  without  benefiting  New  York  or  Maine. 
We  recognize  that  you  cannot  benefit  any  portion  of  this  great  West  without  at 
the  same  time  benefiting  the  whole  of  it.  And  therefore  we  who  live  in  the 
Sacramento  Valley  and  have  our  interests  there,  appeal  to  this  Congress, 
asking  your  aid  and  your  assistance  in  securing  the  reclamation  of  those 
lands,  in  securing  the  reclamation  and  improvement  of  our  rivers,  and  in 
restoring  to  the  cultivated  domain  of  the  United  States  this  vast  territory 
now  covered,  for  the  greater  portion  of  the  year,  witli   water. 

I  understand  that  you  have  now  another  order  of  business,  and  I  purposely 
have  been  brief.  But  if  I  have  done  anything  to  call  your  attention  to  the 
importance  of  this  subject,  to  the  difficulties  that  we  are  battling  with,  and 
to  convince  you  that  we  are  ourselves  trying  with  all  our  might  and  all  our 
purpose  to  do  what  we  can,  willing  to  pay  our  share  of  the  expenses,  willing: 
to  put  our  shoulders  to  the  wheel,  and  that  all  we  ask  the  United  States  to  do, 
and  all  we  ask  you  as  representatives  of  the  great  West  to  do,  is  to  give  us 
your  moral  support,  your  aid,  and  your  assistance  in  securing  from  the  Federal 
Government  that  degree  of  attention  to  the  subject  that  its  importance 
demands.      (Applause.) 

President  Smith: 

Before  proceeding  to  the  special  order,  I  desire  to  ask  the  various  dele- 
gates, as  they  can  find  the  time,  to  bring  their  funds  as  permanent  members 
and  put  them  in  the  hands  of  the  Secretary.  I  also  announce  that  the  mem- 
bers of  the  Resolutions  Committee  are  requested  to  be  here  to  take  part  in 
the  special  order.    Will  somebody  please  go  for  them? 

SELECTION    OF   CITY    FOR    NEXT   SESSION    OF   THE   CONGRESS. 
We  will  now  proceed  to  the  special  order,  which  is  the  selection  of  a 
place  for  holding  the  next  session  of  this  Congress.     The  Secretary  will  call 
the  roll,  to  receive  nominations  for  that  purpose. 

The  Secretary: 

Alaska.     Arkansas.    Arizona.     California.     Colorado. 

Denver   Is   Named. 
Sam    F.  Dutton,  of  Denver,  Colorado: 

Mr.  Chairman:  Colorado  presents  the  name  of  Denver  for  the  conven- 
tion of  1909.  The  Secretary  has  the  official  invitations,  and  Mr.  Callbreath 
will  speak  for  the  city  of  Denver. 

The  Secretary: 

I  have  the  following  communications  upon  the  subject: 

LETTER  FROM  THE  GOVERNOR. 

Denver,    September    29.    1908. 
To  the  Officers  and  Members  of  the  Trans-Mississippi  Commercial  Congress,  In 

convention    assembled    at    San    Francisco.    California. 

Greeting-  I  write  to  invite  you  to  hold  your  session  toi  isms  in  U  inn. 
It  is i  now -admitted  that  Denver  is  the  most  delightful  convention  city  In 
America  Wi "our  great  auditorium  we  are  equipped  to  care  for  conventions 
nf mfvprv  varietv  You  will  receive  here  a  hearty  Colorado  welcome.  I  hat 
means   eveivthing      It  mea   s   the  intellectual    alertness   of    the    Easl    and     he 

gentle"   luavitv    of'  the   South,   associated    with    the    breezy    g nature    oi    the 

woot  '  Very   sincerely, 

West.  .  HENRY    A.    BUCHTEL 

Governor  of  I  Jolorado. 

LETTER  FROM  THE    MAYOR. 

Denver,    September    29,    19 

To    the   Officers    and   Members    of   the    Trans-Mississippi    Commercial    Congresi 

&nTeS!°ni  ampK^ff  in'X  Citation    to  5 ■  Associati 


132  REPORT    OF    PROCEEDINGS 

hold  your  1909  session  in  this  city.  Denver  Is  rapidly  becoming  Hie  conven- 
tion city  "i"  the  United  States,  owing  to  her  rare  ami  numerous  attractions. 
She  is  now  become  famous  as  one  of  the  cleanesl  and  most  beautiful  « > i" 
cities,  with  the  finest  climate  in  the  world  and  mountain  scenery  unsurpassed. 
We  are  of  easy  access,  over  scenic  railways,  to  the  famous  mining 
camps  which  have  contributed  so  much  wealth  to  the  world.  Besides. 
Denver  is  peopled  with  men  and  women  noted  for  their  hospitality,  and  they 
will  heartily  join  with  the  city  administration  and  the  commercial  organiza- 
tions  in    making    your   visit    here    one    never    to    1m-    forgotten. 

Wo  have  just  completed  a  splendid  auditorium  and  our  facilities  for 
accommodating   conventions  are  as   gemd    as  any   city   in   the   country. 

Earnestly  trusting-  that  you  will  accept  our  invitation,  and  will  give  us 
the    pleasure    of    entertaining    you    in     Denver,    I    am. 

Yours  very   truly, 

R.    W.    SPEER,    Mayor. 

LETTER  FROM  THE  CONTENTION  LEAGUE. 

Denver,    Colorado,    Sept.    l's.     L908. 
Officers   and   Members   of   the   Trans>-Mississippi    Commercial    Congress,    in    con- 
vention   assembled.    San    Francisco,    California. 

Dear  Friends:  The  Denver  Convention  League,  composed  of  the  fore- 
most business  men  of  our  city,  most  heartily  joins  in  the  invitation  to  you 
to    hold    your    1909   session    in    the  City   of  Hospitality — Denver. 

We  can  assure  you  of  a  royal  welcome,  such  a  one  as  will  make  your  stay 
with    us   memorable   in    the   annals   of    your    Association. 

Denver  is  situated  in  the  center  of  the  richest  mining  region  in  the 
world.  Colorado  is  known  generally  as  a  mining  state,  yet  the  value  of  our 
agricultural  and  horticultural  products  far  exceeds  the  value  of  our  mineral 
products. 

Should  you  conclude  to  accept  our  invitation,  you  will  see  a  section  of  our 
country,  every  feature  of  which  is  replete  with  the  greatest  interest.  Our  cli- 
mate is  famous  the  world  over  and  our  s'cenery  unequaled. 

We  trust  that  you  will  favorably   consider  our   invitation. 

Very   truly   yours, 
Till-]    DENVER   CONVENTION   LEAGUE, 

W.    F.    U.    .Mills,    Secretary. 

LETTER  FROM  THE  CHAMBER  OF  COMMERCE. 

I  >em  .  i  ,   Col..   September   2S,    llios. 
Officers   and    Members   of    the    Trans-Mississippi    Commercial    Congress,    in    con- 
vention  assembled,   San  Francisco,   Cal. 

i  leiil  lemen  : 

The  Denver  Chamber  of  Commerce  and  Board  of  Trade  desire  to  co-oper- 
ate with  the  other  civic  bodies  in  extending-  to  your  organization  a  most 
cordial  invitation  to  hold  your  1909  session  in  Denver.  Denver  has  enter- 
tained many  conventions,  and  all  Of  them  have  expressed  their  gratification 
of   the   entertainment    and    hospitality   of   our   city. 

We  are  a  growing  community,  and  this  we  believe  should  be  a  most  potent 
factor  in  your  determination  of  the  next  meeting  place.  In  the  matter  of  mem- 
bership we  believe  that  the  enthusiasm  of  a  convention  held  here  will  add 
very  materially  to  your  number.  In  many  ways  we  are  the  most  unique  state 
in  the  Union.  Our  varied  resources,  our  picturesque  scenery,  our  wonderfully 
prolific  soil,  all   has   its  charm   for  the   visitor. 

You  may  be  assured  of  a  hearty  welcome  and  a  mosi  gi  nerous  hospitality, 
and  we  trust  thai  you  will  favorably  consider  the  invitation  of  Denver  to  hold 
your   next    convention   in   our  city. 

Very   truly    yours, 
THE    DENVEU    OHAMI'.El;    OK    COMMERCE, 

By  w.  E.  R.  Mills,  Secretary. 

LETTER    FROM    THE    HOTEL    MEN'S    ASSOCIATION. 

I  icnver.  i  'olo..  September  80,    i  908. 

To    the    Officers    and    Members    of    the    Trans-Mississippi    Commercial     Congress, 

in   convention   assembled,   San    Francisco,   Cal. 

Co  •  n  I  I  e  m  e  n  : 

The  Rocky  .Mountain  Hotel  Men's  Association  joins  in  the  request  that 
your  1909  convention  be  held  in  Denver,  the  Queen  City  of  the  Plains.  The 
fame  of  Denver  as  a  convention  city  Is  known  full  well  from  coast  to  coast, 
as  well  as  in  the  North  and  South,  and  we  are  proud  Of  our  record  in  pleasing 
all    who   have   ever   been   entertained    by    us. 

Denver  is  a  city  of  over  200,000  population,  and  in  addition  to  the  beauties 
of  the  City  itself  there  are  many  trips  to  be  taken  from  the  city,  placing  one 
in    the    heart    of    the    mountains    in    but    a    few    hours'    time. 


TRANS-MISSISSIPPI    COMMERCIAL    CONGRESS  133 

Trusting  we  will^  be  honored  with  the  1909  session,  and  assuring  you  of  a 
genuine   heart  and   soul   welcome,   we   beg  to   remain 

Most  cordially   yours, 
THE    ROCKY    MOUNTAIN   HOTEL    MEN'S   ASSOCIATION, 

By  Sam  F.  Dutton,  President. 

LETTER  FROM  THE   STATE  COMMERCIAL,  ASSOCIATION. 

Denver,  Colo.,  September  29,  1908. 
Mr.  Sam  F.  Dutton, 

City. 
Dear  Sir: 

On  behalf  of  the  Colorado  State  Commercial  Association  you  are  requested 
and  authorized  to  invite  the  Trans-Mississippi  Commercial  Congress  to  hold 
its  next  annual  meeting  in  the  city  of  Denver,   Colorado. 

In  consideration  of  the  same  we  promise  the  hearty  co-operation  of  our 
officers  and  members  toward  making  the  meeting  the  most  successful  in  the 
history  of  the  Congress,  and  a  credit  to  the  enviable  record  achieved  by  our 
metropolis   as  a   convention  city. 

Situated  in  the  center  of  the  populous  district  embraced  in  the  Trans- 
Mississippi  territory,  with  facilities  unsurpassed,  witn  experience  in  the  hand- 
ling and  caring  for  large  conventions  unexcelled,  and  with  hospitality  and 
good  fellowship  unequaled,  Denver  should  attract  a  gathering  sufficient  in 
numbers  and  importance  for  the  maximum  of  achievement  and  results. 

Yours  sincerely, 
THE     COLORADO    STATE     COMMERCIAL    ASSOCIATION. 

W.   E.   Skinner,   President. 
J.    C.    Craig,    Secretary. 

Mr.  J.  F.  Callbreath  Jr.: 

Mr.  President,  Ladies,  Members  of  the  Trans-Mississippi  Commercial  Con- 
gress, and  Gentlemen:  It  gives  me  great  pleasure  to  present  to  you  the  invita- 
tion of  Denver  to  accept  her  hospitality  on  the  occasion  of  your  next  annual 
session.  It  gives  me  particular  pleasure  because  of  the  magnificent  enter- 
tainment and  the  genuine  spirit  of  hospitality  which  has  been  accorded  us  in 
the  city  of  San  Francisco,  and  because  of  that  hospitality  it  is  a  particular 
pleasure  to  me  to  invite  you  to  come  to  Denver,  that  we  may  reciprocate,  as 
far  as  we  may  be  able  to  do  so,  the  many  courtesies  which  we  have  received 
at  the  hands  of  the  people  of  the  city  of  San  Francisco. 

I  listened  with  great  pleasure  to  the  beautiful  description  of  this  State 
given  by  Judge  Cutler  from  this  platform,  and  it  may  be  that,  having  listened 
to  that  description,  you  may  think  that  there  is  nothing  outside  of  California 
which  would  give  interest  and  attraction  to  you.  But  we  are  always  pleased 
with  contrasts.  The  traveler  who  visited  Lake  George  in  New  York  was 
entranced  with  its  beauties,  as  we  have  been  entranced  with  the  beauties  of 
this  magnificent  State.  But  when  the  traveler  was  escorted  up  the  heights 
of  Mont  Blanc,  his  first  exclamation  was  "Beautiful,"  and  then  "Grand."  and 
"Sublime,"  and  from  that  to  "Awful,"  and  'Terrible."  and  then  words  failed, 
and  he  said  "Oh!  oh!  oh!  oh!  oh!"  We  ask  you  to  come  to  Colorado,  to  the 
roof  of  the  continent,  and  we  feel  that  your  exclamations  will  be  like  those 
of    the    traveler    who    journeyed    from    Lake    George    to    the    awful    heights    of 

Mont  Blanc.      We  extend   to   you   the   hospitality   of  a   state   which    has   no    i i 

in  the  continent  in  many  respects.  A  friend  of  mine  said  to  me  upon  the  boat 
today,  "What  would  you  give,  Callbreath,  if  you  had  this  beautiful  bay  In 
Denver?"  I  said  "This  bay  belongs  to  San  Francisco.  It  is  one  of  San  Fran- 
cisco's beauties,  as  well  as  being  that  which  enables  her  to  entertain  and 
to  care  for  the  commerce  of  the  world.  We  of  Denver  have  other  things 
which  we  could  not  have  if  we  had  this  bay.  Let  us  be  content  with  those 
attractions  which  are  ours."  And  it  is  to  those  attractions  that  we  ask  you  to 
come.  When  you  come  to  that  city,  we  will  show  you  as  beautiful  streets 
as  any  in  the  Union,  upon  which  automobile  rides  may  be  taken;  we  Will 
entertain  you  in  first  class  hotels  and  many  of  them  as  well:  put  yon  upon 
a  railroad  and  take  you  to  a  point  and  back  again  the  same  day  that  is 
over  13  000  feet  in  the  air,  by  railroad.  We  will  furnish  you  more  beautiful 
excursions  than  can  be  found  from  any  similar  point.  1  believe,  in  tins  country, 
and  we  will  entertain  you  in  an  auditorium  which  is  said  to  be  the  finest 
in  its  appointments  and  in  its  acoustic  properties  of  any  that  has  ever  been 
constructed. 

ca 


I  want  to  give  vou,  for  fear  that  you  may  think  that  I  am  overstating  the 
ise,  and  it  is  very  possible  that  that  may  be  — I  know  at  one  time  I  was 
aking  a  talk  before  a  political  audience,  and  after  I  had  gotten  through, 
an  Irishman  in  the  rear  of  the  hall  seemed  much  interested,  and  I  "aid  to 
him  "Pat,  what  did  vou  think  of  it?"  And  he  Baid,  "I  11  tell  you  what  l  thoughl 
about  it  I  believe 'that  you  and  I  can  tell  more  lies  than  any  two  men  in 
Colorado,  and  I  wouldn  t  sly  a  word."  (Laughter  )  But  we  have  one  authority 
that   I   want   to   quote   to   you.     After   the   entertainment    ol    the   Grand    Armj 


134  REPORT    OF    PROCEEDINGS 

convention  in  Denver  a  few  years  ago,  a  convention  wl^ich  brought  to  our 
city    125,000   people,   and    to  justify   that    statement    I    want    to    say    to   you    thai 

80,00(1  tickets  were  deposited  with  the  general  ticket  agent  in  the  city  of 
Denver  upon  the  occasion  —  a  convention  with  125,000  people,  when  our  pop- 
ulation was  about  200,000,  and  every  man  entertained  and  well  cared  for. 
At  the  banquet  given  at  the  Chamber  of  Commerce  to  the  leading  spirits  of 
the  Grand  Army,  Corporal  Tanner,  whom  you  know  very  well,  if  not  personal- 
ly, by  reputation,  made  this  statement  at  that  meeting:  "Denver's  word  is 
her  bond  for  the  utmost."  We  want  to  say  to  you  that  Denver's  word  will 
be  her  bond  to  the  utmost,  and  we  offer  to  you,  if  you  accept  her  hospitality. 
as  I  hope  you  will,  everything  that  can  be  given  to  you  by  our  people,  and 
whatever  is  necessary  for  the  carrying  on  of  this  work  will  be  provided,  and 
everything  possible  for  us  to  do  for  you  will  be  clone. 

I  trust,  gentlemen,  that  you  will  honor  Denver  by  making  her  your  next 
meeting   place.      (Applause.) 

Mr.   John    McDonough: 

I  want  to  extend  to  the  Trans-Mississippi  Commercial  Congress,  on  behalf 
of  the  Real  Estate  Exchange  of  Denver,  an  invitation  to  come  over  to  our  fair 
city.  And  when  you  come  to  Denver,  you  will  like  everything  in  our  fair 
State.  You  will  see  upon  one  side  Pike's  Peak,  with  a  height  of  14,400  miles, 
and  a  distance  of  eighty  miles — that  is  to  the  south.  To  the  north  you  will  see 
Long's  Peak,  with  a  height  of  14,500  miles.  To  the  west  of  us,  you  will  see 
McClellan  Peak,  with  a  height  of  15,000  and  some  odd  miles. 

A  Voice: 

Feet,  you  mean.     (Laughter.) 

Mr.  McDonough: 

I  want  you  all  to  understand  that  we  never  quote  "feet"  in  Colorado.  It 
is  always  miles.     (Laughter.) 

I  will  say  also  that,  representing  the  Real  Estate  Exchange,  every  mem- 
ber of  which  owns  an  automobile,  that  we  will  be  able  to  take  you  around 
the  most  beautiful  city  in  the  world.  I  want  you  all  to  come  on  there,  every 
one  of  you.    On  behalf  of  the  city  of  Denver,  I  thank  you. 

The  Secretary: 

I  will  proceed  with  the  calling  of  the  roll.     Idaho.     Kansas.     Louisiana  — 

W.  O.  Hart,  of  New  Orleans: 
Mr.  President : 

President  Smith: 

Mr.  W.  O.  Hart,  of  New  Orleans,  Louisiana. 

INVITATION   FROM   NEW   Oltf.EAXS. 
Mr.  W.  O.  Hart! 

"Where    are    you    going,    my    pretty    maid'.''' 
"1   am   going  to   New   Orleans,   sir."    she   said. 

That  is  what  we  want  you  to  do.  We  want  you  to  come  to  New  Orleans, 
to  hold  the  Congress  of  1909.  No  one  can  say  anything  against  Denver;  no  one 
can  say  anything  against  the  hospitality  of  Denver;  no  one  can  say  that  Den- 
ver is  not  a  proper  place  to  hold  a  convention,  except  perhaps  the  bankers, 
who  weni  there  and  resolved  thai  they  were  against  the  Democratic  platform, 
and  resolved  that  they  were  against  the  Republican  platform.  I'.ut  those  of  us 
who  attended  the  Democratic  convention  at  Denver,  and  I  see  some  of  them 
before  me,  know  what    Denver  can  do. 

Hut,  gentlemen.  Denver  has  been  honored.  She  has  been  given  the  presi- 
dency of  this  Congress.  Do  nol  put  all  your  eggs  in  one  basket.  Divide  the 
honors  of  this  Congress,  and  go  somewhere  else  rather  than  to  Denver  for  the 
me, -ting  of   1909. 

Lei  me  tell  you  something,  ladies  and  gentlemen,  about  New  Orleans, 
Louisiana,  thai  probably  you  do  nol  know.  Of  the  twenty  states  and  territories 
represented  in  this  Congress,  thirteen  of  them,  a  majority,  were  carved  out  of 
the  Louisiana  Purchase,  that  great  ad  of  Thomas  Jefferson.  They  were  pre- 
served to  the  United  States  i>\   the  victory  of  Andrew  Jackson  on  the  battlefield 


TRANS-MISSISSIPPI    COMMERCIAL    CONGRESS  135 

of  Chalmette,  on  January  15,  1815.     But  in  a  greater  sense,  in   a   broader  view, 
every  part  of  the  Trans-Mississippi  territory   is  a  part   of   Louisiana. 

There  were  thirteen  states  carved  out  of  Louisiana,  just  as  there  were 
thirteen  original  states  of  these  United  States,  and  all  the  balance  of  this  Mis- 
sissippi country  belonged  to  Louisiana  in  a  sense,  as  I  say.  Without  the  pur- 
chase of  Louisiana,  we  would  never  have  had  the  Oregon  country,  there  would 
have  been  no  Lewis  and  Clark  expedition,  no  Oregon,  no  Washington  and  no 
Idaho.  Without  the  Louisiana  Purchase,  the  annexation  of  Texas  would  have 
been  an  impossibility.  Without  the  annexation  of  Texas,  there  would  have 
been  no  Mexican  War,  and  there  would  have  been  no  California,  no  Utah,  no 
New  Mexico,  and  no  Arizona.  And  without  the  Pacific  Slope  there  would 
have  been  no  Hawaii  and  no  Philippines.  So  the  Trans-Mississippi  of  these 
United  States  all  belongs  to  Louisiana,  all  originated  with  Louisiana,  and 
without  Louisiana  it  would  have  had  no  being.     (Applause.) 

There  is  something  about  the  Trans-Mississippi  part  of  Louisiana  that  per- 
haps you  do  not  know.  Louisiana  is  the  only  state  of  the  Mississippi  Valley. 
except  Minnesota,  which  is  penetrated  by  the  Mississippi  River.  All  the  other 
states  border  upon  the  river,  on  one  side  or  the  other,  but  the  river  does  not 
run  through  them;  New  Orleans  is  the  only  city  on  the  Mississippi  River  which 
is  on  the  two  sides.  We  have  a  Trans-Mississippi  side  or  part  of  the  city  of  New 
Orleans,  and  we  have  the  Atlantic  section,  so  to  speak.  The  present  Mayor  of 
the  city  of  New  Orleans  is  from  the  Trans-Mississippi  part,  and  so  good  a 
Mayor  has  he  been  that  as  he  is  now  about  completing  his  four-year  term,  he 
will  next  month  be  unanimously  re-elected  Mayor  of  the  city,  something  that 
never  happened  before  in  the  history  of  this  government,  so  far  as  I  am  aware, 
a  man  to  be  unanimously  nominated  and  elected  Mayor  of  a  great  city.  From 
the  Trans-Mississippi  side  of  the  state  of  Louisiana  comes  our  Governor,  and 
came  his  three  predecessors,  and  our  two  United  States  Senators  and  each  of 
their  predecessors  is  from  the  Trans-Mississippi  part  of  the  State.  The  Chief 
Justice  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  State  is  from  the  Trans-Mississippi  side  of 
the  State.  Out  of  seven  Congressmen,  four  are  from  the  Trans-Mississippi  side, 
and  in  the  next  Congress  there  will  be  five,  because  one  of  those  who  had 
heretofore  been  from  the  eastern  part  of  the  State  has  been  defeated,  and  his 
successor  comes  from   across  the  river. 

So  you  see  the  Trans-Mississippi  part  of  Louisiana  is  a  very  important  part 
of  it  Why  do  you  know,  gentlemen,  that  New  Orleans  is  the  greatest  cotton 
market  in 'the  world,  the  greatest  foreign  fruit  market  in  the  world?  In  the 
last  week  there  have  come  to  the  city  of  New  Orleans  two  ships  bringing  in 
69  000  and  71.000  bunches  of  bananas,  respectively,  enough  to  give  every  man. 
woman  and  child  in  the  state  of  California  a  banana  and  have  some  left  over— 
and  when  vou  come  down  there,  we  will  see  that  you  each  get  one.  There  are 
lots  of  other  good  things,  too.  A  gentleman  the  other  day  said  to  me,  "I  won  t 
come  to  New  Orleans,  until  I  know  whether  a  certain  place  is  there.  I  being 
a  Prohibitionist  could  not  say  whether  he  would  find  it  there  or  not,  but  I  can 
tell   you   confidentially  that   everything  you   want  is   there,   whether   you   have 

seen 'it.  or  not.      (Laughter.) 

the  other 


will   get   a   promise 
lgress,  wher- 

ever  i    may' be! ""wT will  dol  «  S^*^™  *Jj 

ion 


and  camp  in  Lincoln,  so  that  on  the  night  of  election,  you   will  g 
from   the  President-elect  to   come  to   the   next   session   of  this.Con 


areVoTpresent^- 'thev^are'attending  that  convention   at  this   time. 
Waterways   Convention  at  Memphis  last  year  was  the  greates     eon ven   in,,   this 
country    ever    saw.    .  We    had    there .the    President    of    the ^  United    States    and 


twenty  governors  wit  h  Mm Were  are  the  twenty  governors  here?  I  under 
sTand  there  is  only  one  governor  at  this  convention,  outside  of  the  Governo 
of  California      It   is   because    it   is   too   far   away.      Not    that   we   do    not    en.,,, 

C°mM^  B^rrVn^-spSk^^e  misters  of  the  Central  American   Republic, 


to  San  Francisco,  nearly  a   week. 


136  REPORT    OF    PROCEEDINGS 

So,  gentlemen,  In  speaking  of  the  Trans-Mississippi  part  of  Louisiana 
again,  you  will  remember  that  it  was  in  that  part  of  Louisiana  t hat  the  Presi- 
dent of  the  United  Stati-s  himself  went  bear  hunting  last  year.  (Laughter.) 
So  that  part  of  the  United  States  is  really  quite  important. 

Speaking  of  the  President  of  the  United  States,  it  seems  to  me,  I  want  to 
say  I  hope  when  you  come  to  Louisiana  for  your  next  Congress,  that  you  will 
bring  those  two  flags  that  are  there  upon  the  wall  with  you.  and  I  will  tell  you 
why.  The  man  who  made  those  flags  must  have  been  in  the  confidence  of  the 
President  of  the  United  States,  because  in  his  Utter  to  the  Irrigation  Congress 
he  said:  "Before  my  term  expires,  I  want  to  sign  two  bills,  making  Arizona 
and  New  Mexico  states  of  the  Union."  On  those  two  flags  you  will  notice  yot* 
have  forty-eight  stars  instead  of  our  present  forty-six,  so  that  you  have 
already  anticipated  the  President.  But  bring  those  writh  you  when  you  come  to 
New  Orleans,  and  then   they  will  probably   speak  the  truth. 

Now,  gentlemen,  why  should  you  not  come  to  New  Orleans? — come  back 
and  see  mother.  Just  come  back  and  have  a  home-coming  week.  You  are  all 
children  of  New  Orleans.  Year  after  next,  you  will  reach  your  twenty-first 
year.  Come  in  and  see  mother  before  the  home  ties  are  off  forever.  This 
Congress  met  many  years  ago,  when  it  was  an  infant,  at  New  Orleans,  and 
now  that  it  is  a  sturdy  youth  we  want  it  to  come  and  see  mother  before  it 
attains  its  majority.  Come  down  there  and  get  your  coffee,  the  kind  that  mother 
used  to  make — that  is  one  of  the  good  things  we  will  give  you,  and  yet  there 
are  lots  of  other  good  things  that  we  will  give  you. 

I  am  not  here,  I  repeat,  saying  anything  against  Denver.  I  thoroughly 
enjoyed  my  visits  to  Denver,  and  I  have  been  there  many  times.  Talk  about 
their  auditorium.  What  would  you  do  in  there?  Why,  gentlemen,  you  would 
be  lost.  Just  think  of  it — it  holds  15,000  people,  and  what  would  our  Congress 
of  one  or  two  thousand  or  three  thousand  people  do  there?  So  don't  be 
carried  away  by  the  fact  that  it  has  a  big  auditorium.  It  is  very  good  for  a 
Democratic  or  a  Republican  convention,  where  everybody  goes,  but  for  a  com- 
pact organization  of  this  kind,  it  is  really  of  no  consequence  at  all. 

Now,  my  friends,  in  no  spirit  of  antagonism  to  my  friends  from  Denver, 
but,  on  the  contrary,  I  want  to  say  to  you  that  I  hope  when  I  get  through,  and 
when  those  who  follow  me  have  finished,  that  with  one  acclaim  you  will  all 
shout  that  his  next  Convention  shall  go  to  New  Orleans,  Louisiana.     (Applause.) 

Immediately  following  the  address  of  Mr.  Hart,  Miss  Maude  F.  Williams, 
of  San  Francisco,  sang  "Louisiana." 

Land  of  the  brave,  aye,  the  gallant  and  bold, 

Louisiana. 

Home  of  the  lads  with  hearts  good  as  gold, 

Louisiana. 

Unequaled  in  beauty  the  great  wide  world  o'er; 

The  names  of  thy   sons  reach  from   shore   to   shore; 

Yea,  the  names  of  thy  sons  reach  from  shore  to  shore; 

Louisiana. 

Blest  are  the  mortals  whose  feet  touch  thy  strand, 

Louisiana. 

Home  of  my  childhood,  imperial  land, 

Louisiana. 

Thy  rich,   fertile  soil  is  forever  renown'd; 

Thy   forests   in   numerous  trees   still   abound; 

Thy  melodious  songs,   unsurpassed,  aye,  in  sound; 

Louisiana. 

Mild  are  the  winters  that  visit  thy  shore, 

Louisiana. 

Beautiful    birds    through    thy    balmy    air    soar. 

Louisiana. 

Leader  of  all,  bright  and  glorious  land, 

Pray,    tell    me    the    country    which    writh    thee    can    stand. 

For  surely  thy  fields  have  been  touched  by  God's  hand, 

Louisiana. 

Miss  Williams   then  sang  "Dixie,"   in    which   the   audience   joined,   and 
three  rousing  cheers  were  given  for  Louisiana. 

The  Secretary: 

I  will  proceed  with  the  calling  of  the  roll.     Minnesota.     Montana.     Mis- 
souri.   Nebraska.    Nevada.    New  Mexico.    North  Dakota.    Oklahoma. 


TRANS-MISSISSIPPI    COMMERCIAL    CONGRESS  137 

OKLAHOMA  SECONDS  NEW  ORLEANS. 
Mr.  D.  P.  Marum,  of  Oklahoma: 

Oklahoma  thinks  it  will  be  easier  to  carry  her  fleet  down  to  New  Orleans 
than  to  carry  it  up  the  Arkansas,  and  we  will  second  the  nomination  of  New 
Orleans. 

The  Secretary: 

(Continuing  with  the  roll)     Oregon.     South  Dakota.     Texas. 

TEXAS   SECONDS    DENVER. 
Mr.   Ike  T.  Pryor,  of  Texas: 

We  will  withdraw  and  not  present  the  name  of  any  town  in  Texas,  but 
second  the  nomination  of  Denver. 

The  Secretary: 

Utah.      Washington. 

WASHINGTON  SECONDS  DENVER. 
Mr.  George  C.  Congdon,  of  Seattle: 

On  behalf  of  Washington,  and  of  the  city  of  Seattle,  which  has  extended 
an  invitation  to  this  convention  to  attend  there  during  the  exposition  year, 
which  is  next  year,  I  at  this  time  wish  to  thank  the  many  friends  who  have 
promised  their  aid.  After  having  seen  the  situation,  however,  and  without 
any  reflection  whatever  upon  any  of  the  Congress,  the  delegation  has 
unanimously  decided  to  cast  our  vote  as  a  unit  for  Denver. 

The  Secretary: 

The  Philippines.  Hawaii.  That  completes,  Mr.  President,  the  call  of 
states. 

President  Smith: 

What  is  the  pleasure  of  the  convention? 

Mr.  J.  J.  Gosper,  of  Los  Angeles: 

I  suggest  that  the  Secretary  call  the  list  of  States  and  Territories,  and, 
as  the  same  are  called,  let  the  chairman  of  the  State  called  present  the  vote 
of  that  State  or  Territory  as  to  the  place  for  holding  the  next  convention. 
It  seems  to  me  that  would  be  the  quickest  way. 

Mr.  J.   W.   Howell,  of  Washington: 
I  make  that  as  a  motion. 

President  Smith: 

If  there  is  no  objection,  the  Secretary  will  now  proceed  to  the  calling 
of  the  roll. 

The   Secretary: 

Alaska. 

Mr.  Boyce: 

Alaska  asks  to  be  passed,  Mr.  Chairman. 

The  Secretary: 

Arkansas.     Arizona. 

Mr.  W.  T.  F.  Donald: 

Arizona  votes  for  Denver. 


138  REPORT    OF    PROCEEDINGS 

President  Smith: 

Every  state  is  entitled  to  at  least  ten  votes,  and  to  thirty  votes  if  they 
have  that  number  of  delegates.     No  state  has  more  than  thirty  votes. 

Mr.  John   J.  Boyce: 

Alaska  now  casts  its  vote  for  New  Orleans. 

The   Secretary: 

Arkansas  is  passed.     California. 

Mr.  Arthur  R.  Briggs: 

California  does  not  forget  the  generous  treatment  it  received  from  the 
lower  portion  of  the  United  States  when  we  were  at  Muskogee.  Their  vote, 
I  think,  settled  the  question  of  having  the  Congress  held  in  San  Francisco 
this  year.  We  have  caucused  on  the  matter,  and  have  decided  to  cast  twenty 
votes  for  New  Orleans. 

The   Secretary: 

Have  you  thirty? 

Mr.  Briggs: 

If  we  have  thirty,  we  will  give  New  Orleans  thirty. 

The   Secretary: 

California  has  a  delegation  of  247,  with  42  present,  and  she  is  entitled 
to  thirty  votes. 

Mr.    Briggs: 

Very  well.     California  casts  thirty  votes  for  New  Orleans. 

The   Secretary: 
Colorado. 

Mr.    Callbreath: 

Thirty  votes  for  Denver. 

The  Secretary: 

Hawaii. 

President  Smith: 

How   many  representatives  have  you  here   from    Hawaii? 

Mr.  L.   E.  Pinkham: 
We  have  eleven. 

President   Smith: 

Then  you  are  entitled  to  eleven  votes. 

Mr.   Pinkham: 

We  cast  those  eleven  votes  for  Denver. 

The  Secretary: 

Idaho.      Iowa.      Kansas. 

Mr.   Fred   Harger: 

Kansas  casts  thirty   votes   for  Denver. 


TRANS-MISSISSIPPI    COMMERCIAL    CONGRESS  139 

The  Secretary: 
Louisiana. 

Mr.    Hart: 

I  ask  that  Louisiana  be  passed  temporarily. 

The  Secretary: 

Minnesota.     Montana. 

Mr.  Herbert  Strain: 

Montana  thinks  a  great  deal  of  her  mother,  but  she  thinks  she  will  vole 
for  her  sister,  Denver — ten  votes. 

The  Secretary: 

Missouri. 

Col.    Fred    W.    Fleming: 

Missouri  casts  ten  votes  for  Denver. 

Secretary  Francis: 

Nevada. 

Alfred  Chartz: 

Nevada  casts  ten  votes  for  New  Orleans. 

Secretary  Francis: 

New  Mexico.     North  Dakota.    Oklahoma.     Oregon. 

H.   E.  Albert: 

Oregon  casts  ten  votes  for  New  Orleans. 

Secretary  Francis: 

South  Dakota.  Texas. 

Mr.  Ike  T.  Pryor: 

Texas  casts  ten  votes  for  Denver. 

Secretary  Francis: 
Utah. 

Mr.  George  M.  Cannon: 

Utah  casts  twelve  voles  for  New  Orleans. 

Secretary  Francis: 
Washington. 

Captain  J.  W.  Howell: 

Washington  casts  ten  votes  for  Denver. 

Secretary  Francis: 

Wyoming.     Philippines. 

Mr.   M.  A.  Clark: 

The  Philippines  cast  ten  votes  for  Denver. 

Secretary  Francis: 

The  Travelers'  Protective  Association. 


140 


REPORT    OF    PROCEEDINGS 


Mr.  H.  L.  Judell: 

Five  for  Denver  and  five  for  New  Orleans. 

Secretary  Francis: 

United  Commercial  Travelers. 

Mr.  Emmett  Dunn: 

Five  for  Denver  and  five  for  New  Orleans. 

Secretary  Francis: 
Louisiana. 

Mr.   Hart: 

Mr.  President,  Louisiana,  thanking  the  friends  who  have  so  generously 
given  the  vote  to  New  Orleans,  casts  her  thirty  votes  for  Denver,  and  I  ask 
that  it  be  made  unanimous. 


Secretary  Francis: 

The  vote  by  states  results  as  follows: 

Alaska    


Denver. 


Arizona    10 

California   

Colorado    30 

I  la  waii     11 

Kansas 30 

Montana    1° 

Missouri     10 

Nevada     

Oregon  

Texas    1*1 


Utah    

Washington    10 

Philippines 10 

Travelers'  Protective  Association 5 

t'nited  Commercial  Travelers   5 

Louisiana    30 


New  Orleans. 
10 

30 


10 
10 

12 


171 


si' 


Mr.  Briggs: 

California  desires  to  change  its  vote  from  New  Orleans  to  Denver — 
thirty   votes. 

Mr.  D.   P.   Marum: 

Oklahoma  desires  to  change  its  vote  to  read  ten  votes  for  Denver. 

Mr.  Cannon: 

Utah  asks  that  her  vote  be  changed  from  New  Orleans  to  Denver. 

The  motion  that  the  nomination  of  Denver  be  made  unanimous  received 
several  seconds,  and  unanimously  prevailed. 

Mr.  Callbreath: 

Permit  me  to  return  the  sincere  thanks  of  the  Denver  delegation  for  the 
compliment  you  have  paid  our  city.  And  I  desire  to  say  to  you  that  if  any- 
thing we  have  said  here  today  in  connection  with  your  entertainment  there 
do.s  not  hold  true  next  year,  you  may  hold  me  responsible.  Come,  and  you 
will  have  the  best  time  of  your  life. 

President   Smith: 

The  next  in  order  is  an  address  by  Mr.  George  W.  Dickie,  of  California. 


,i±^*<  V 


UNwE*srrY 


OF 


FO«£ 


\t> 


<;eok<;k  w.  dickie,  s»n  i  >:,,,.- i.s«.0. 


TRANS-MISSISSIPPI    COMMERCIAL    CONGRESS 


I  II 


Mr.  Gosper: 


that^lm  fl^At"  PerS°nS  PreSent>  before  the  order  is  P^eeded  with, 
that  >ou  will  find  the  evening  program  most  excellent.     One  of  the  best 

engineers  in  America,  Mr.  Lippincott,  will  give  an  illustrated  lectur,  upon 
waterways.  ' 

President   Smith: 

I  now  introduce  to  you  Mr.  George  W.  Dickie,  who  will  deliver  an  address 
upon  the  subject,  "Pacific  Ocean  Commerce."     (Applause.) 

"PACIFIC     OCEAN     COMMERCE." 
By  Mr.  George  YV.  Dickie,  of  California. 
By  Mr.  Dickie  of  San  Franeisco: 

Mr  Chairman,  Gentlewomen,  and  Gentlemen  of  the  Trans-Mississippi  Com- 
mercial Congress:  For  more  than  thirty  years  I  have  taken  every  oppor- 
tunity to  address  the  people  of  San  Francisco  on  the  possibilities  of  a  gnat 
commerce  that  would  make  their  front  door,  not  only  a  golden  gate  in  name, 
but  a  gate  of  gold  in  fact.  It  has  always  been  my  object  to  bring  to  their 
attention  the  important  geographical  position  of  their  citv.  whose  Golden  Gate 
stands  in  the  center  of  the  United  States  front  elevation  facing  the  Pa> 
Ocean,  and  to  remind  them  as  occasion  offered  of  the  part  they  ought  to  take  in 
the  development  of  that  ocean's  commerce — a  commerce  that  is  destined  to  ex- 
pand to  proportions  as  yet  undreamed  of  by  the  most  optimistic  believers  in 
the  future  of  Asia,  Africa,  Australia,  and  the  islands  of  the  Pacific. 

A  glance  at  the  commercial  history  of  great  cities  both  ancient  and  modern 
will  show  that  their  prosperity  depended  upon  the  skill  with  which  they  took 
advantage  of  their  positions  relative  to  water  borne  commerce  and  made  the 
countries  and  peoples  behind  them  dependent  upon  them  for  the  facilities  which 
they  controlled.  It  is  true  that  in  ancient  times  as  well  as  modern,  great  cities 
arose  and  nourished  as  the  centers  of  inland  commerce.  The  ancient  city  of 
Palmyra  was  built  in  the  midst  of  a  great  desert  because,  there,  great  lines  of 
travel  met.  Such  locations  are  artificial — accidents  of  commerce;  they  are 
born  of  the  necessities  of  trade. 

Our  case  is  different;  magnificent  as  our  position  is,  we  are  not  necessary  to 
commerce,  for  we  see  it  pass  by  us,  but  commerce  is  absolutely  necessary  to 
us;  for  the  upbuilding  and  developing  power  of  commerce  has  always  been  a 
potent  factor  in  the  history  of  the  great  centers  of  population  and  civilization. 
The  earliest  seats  of  population,  therefore,  we  find  upon  the  banks  of  the 
Euphrates,  the  Nile  and  Ganges,  and  the  great  rivers  of  China;  and  on  the 
shores  and  islands  of  the  Mediterranean  Sea.  that  cradle  of  ancient  maritime 
commerce,  and  we  find  the  seat  of  ancient  culture  and  civilization  in  many  re- 
spects  unsurpassed. 

No  history  affords  a  better  example  of  the  enormous  influence  of  an  ex- 
tensive commerce  than  does  that  of  ancient  Phoenicia,  and  I  will  ask  you  to 
listen  to  a  few  brief  extracts  from  Fenelon's  Telemachus,  which  touch  on  the 
shipping  of  that  famous  maritime  power.  When  Telemachus  landed  at  Tyre, 
that  city  seemed  to  him  to  float  upon  the  waters,  the  sovereign  of  the  deep,  a 
city  crowded  with  traders  of  every  nation,  her  own  people  the  most  eminent 
merchants  in  the  world,  and  the  vessels  in  the  harbor  so  numerous  as  almost 
to  hide  the  water  in  which  they  floated.  He  gazed  with  insatiable  curiosity 
upon  this  great  city  in  which  all  was  motion  and  energy,  men  busy  loading 
vessels,  despatching  or  selling  their  merchandise,  putting  their  warehouses  in 
order,  or  keeping  an  account  of  the  sums  due  them  from  foreign  merchants. 
Turning  to  Narbal,  the  captain  of  the  Phoenician  vessel  that  had  brought  him 
to  Tyre,  Telemachus  asks  by  what  means  the  Phoenicians  had  monopolized  the 
commerce  of  the  world,  and  enriched  themselves  at  the  expense  of  every  other 
nation.  "You  see  the  means."  answered  Narbal.  "for  th<  posit  ion  of  Tyre 
renders  it  more  fit  for  commerce  than  any  other  place,  and  the  Invention  of 
navigation  is  the  peculiar  glory  of  our  country,  for  we  have  reduced  the 
theories  of  Egyptian  and  Babylonian  science  to  practice,  regulating  our 
courses  at  night  when  we  can  see  no  land  marks,  by  the  stars;  thus  we  bring 
together  innumerable  nations,  which  the  seas  have  separated.  Such  are  tin- 
means,  by  which  we  have  subjected  the  seas  to  our  dominion,  and  Included  everj 
nation  in  our  commerce.  But  if  jealousj  ami  faction  should  break  In  among 
us,  if  we  should  be  seduced  by  pleasures  or  by  indolence,  If  the  great  should 
come  to  regard  labor  and  economy  with  contempt,  and  the  manual  arts  should 
no  longer  be  deemed  honorable,  if  public  faith  should  nol  be  kept  with  the 
stranger,  and  the  laws  of  commerce  violated;  if  the  shipbuilding  art  should  bi 
neglected,    and    those    sums    withheld    that   are    necessary    to    make    the    instru- 


142  REPORT    OF    PROCEEDINGS 

ments  of  navigation  perfect  of  their  kind,  that  power  which  is  now  the  object 
of  your  admiration  would  soon  be  at  an  end." 

Telemachus,  not  willing  to  be  ignorant  of  any  of  the  arts  of  government, 
inquire,!  of  Xarhal  by  what  means  the  Tyreans  had  become  so  powerful  at 
sea.  To  this  query  the  captain  answered,  "We  have  the  forests  of  Lebanon, 
which  furnish  sufficient  timber  for  building  ships;  and  we  are  careful  to 
reserve  it  all  for  that  purpose,  never  suffering  a  single  tree  to  be  felled  but 
for  the  advancement  of  commerce;  and  we  have  a  great  number  of  our  people 
very  skilled  in  ship  architecture — these  are  the  gradual  product  of  our  own 
country.  When  those  who  excel  in  such  arts  are  constantly  and  liberally  re- 
warded, they  will  soon  be  practiced  in  the  greatest  possible  perfection;  for 
persons  of  the  highest  abilities  will  always  apply  themselves  to  those  arts  by 
which  great  rewards  are  to  be  obtained.  Our  kings  have  bestowed  rewards  and 
honors  upon  whomsoever  excels  in  any  art  or  science  upon  which  navigation 
depends,  and  skilful  shipbuilders  are  not  only  well  paid,  but  treated  with 
deference  by  all  the  people,  as  on  their  work  depends  the  welfare  of  our 
nation." 

1  think  the  Great  Teacher,  whom  so  many  of  us  accept  as  Lord  and  Saviour 
of  the  race,  must  have  known  how  good  the  king  of  Tyre  was  to  the  ship- 
builder when  he  said,  "It  would  be  better  for  Tyre  in  the  day  of  judgment  than 
for  the  men  id"  this  generation,"  and  for  the  same  reason  might  we  not  say,  that 
in  the  day  of  judgment  it  will  be  better  for  the  lawmakers  of  ancient  Tyre 
than  for  the  gentlemen  who  sit  for  us  in  Washington  and  do  nothing  for  the 
upbuilding  of  our  oversea  commerce. 

Nothing  in  the  history  of  nations  is  more  marked  than  the  struggles  ot 
commerce  to  establish  and  maintain  conditions  of  stability  in  the  practical 
means  of  communcation  with  distant  parts.  Driven  from  the  land  by  imposts 
and  restrictions  it  sought  freedom  and  safety  on  the  sea.  Rome,  all  powerful 
on  the  land,  yielded  to  Carthage  the  empire  of  the  sea;  the  strength  of  Rome  was 
in  her  army,  the  strength  of  Carthage  in  her  ships,  which,  sailing  beyond  the 
march  of  the  Roman  legions,  carried  her  commerce  out  of  the  Mediterranean 
into  the  broad  Atlantic  and  founded  the  port  of  Cadiz  beyond  the  mystic  Pillars 
of  Hercules.  Later  the  adventurous  Venetian  refugees,  stretching  their  hands 
over  the  sea,  found  in  its  fish  and  salt  and  the  rich  commerce  it  opened  up  to 
them,  more  than  compensation  for  the  fat  lands  and  inland  towns  from  which 
they  had  been  driven;  and  in  the  course  of  time,  from  the  security  of  her 
position  and  the  enterprise  of  her  merchants,  Venice  became  the  foremost 
maritime  power  and  mistress  of  the  seas.  There  the  first  public  bank  was 
organized,  there  bills  of  exchange  were  first  negotiated  and  funded  debt  be- 
came transferable,  there  finance  became  a  science  and  bookkeeping  became 
an  art. 

Coming  to  modern  communities,  we  find  the  same  conditions  existing  that 
an  open  door  to  the  ocean,  the  common  highway  of  nations,  and  the  enterprise 
to  use  it  are  the  requirements  indispensable  to  commercial  success.  It  is  her 
doorway  to  the  ocean  that  makes  London  the  commercial  head  of  Great  Britain; 
greatness  and  wealth  have  come  to  Liverpool  through  her  door  by  the  Mersey; 
Manchester  has  spent  many  millions  to  make  use  of  that  same  door,  and 
although  the  wise  railroad  people  blamed  her  at  the  time  for  spending  her 
money  so  foolishly,  results  have  proved  that  there  was  no  folly,  but  much  wis- 
dom in  that  costly  front  door  for  Manchester.  Glasgow  has  made  an  imposing 
front  entrance  out  of  that  little  river,  making  the  Clyde  famous  all  the  world 
over.  France  and  Germany  have  expended  fabulous  sums  to  make  gateways 
for  ocean   borne  commerce. 

In  the  new  world  the  same  conditions  will  produce  the  same  results,  hut 
the  natural  circumstances  have  been  altered  in  this  country  by  the  artificial 
arrangement  of  values  rendering  ocean  commerc*  impossible  to  our  citizens. 
Only  by  wise  legislation  that  will  enable  us  to  build  and  operate  the  modern 
Instruments  of  commerce  can  a  great  Trans-Pacific  commerce  he  huilt 
uii  and  managed  by  the  citizens  of  this  great  commonwealth,  resulting  in  new 
life  and  enhanced  prosperity  to  all  the  Pacific  Coast  States.  Forgetting  that 
every  other  Industry  throughout  this  great  country  is  subsidized  by  a  pro- 
tective tariff  that  enables  them  to  be  operated  with  profit  because  of  the  arti- 
ficial values  tints  created,  and  that  this  same  subsidy  that  makes  prosperity 
possible  on  every  inch  of  land  in  these  United  States  is  the  very  thing  that 
makes  a  successful  ocean  commerce  Impossible,  unless  the  highly  subsidized  in- 
dustries on  shore  are  willing  to  have  that  same  help  given  to  those  who  do 
business  on  the  sea.  The  interior  population  of  this  country,  who  do  not  feel 
the  Influence  of  the  great  sea.  and  have  no  sympathj  with  those  who  go  there 
on  ships  "anil  do  business  in  the  great  waters."  have  always  opposed  and 
blocked  the  passage  of  any  remedial  legislation.  To  them  subsidy  means 
thievery  and  their  voice  raised  high  in  the  assemblage  of  our  lawmakers  has 
compelled  this  great  country  to  lei  her  ocean  commerce  die  without  extending 
a  helping  hand   to   those   who  have   vainly   struggled    to   keep   it  alive. 


TRANS-MISSISSIPPI    COMMERCIAL    CONGRESS  L43 

In  1891  there  was  a  great  deal  of  agitation  among  the   merchants  of  San 

Francisco  in  regard  to  rail  transportation  to  and  from  the  city,  and  a  vigorous 
traffic  association  was  formed  to  devise  means  of  relief.  1  prepared  and  pub 
lished  at  that  time  an  address  to  the  merchants,  the  shippers  and  the  pro- 
ducers of  San  Francisco  and  California,  recommending  the  establishment  ol  B 
high  class  freight  steamship  line  to  run  between  the  Atlantic  am!  Pacific  ports 
and  giving  the  character  of  ships  required  for  this  service,  and  my  estimate  oi 
the  cost  of  operating  them.  This  address  created  a  great  deal  of  Interest  and 
was  extensively  commented  on  by  the  press  of  that  day.  While  a  greal  deal  of 
this  comment  was  of  a  favorable  character,  much  of  it  could  only  Bee  sell- 
interest  in  the  work  I  did,  and  although  I  stated  that  it  was  entirely  that  of  an 
individual  and  for  no  other  purpose  than  to  give  those  interested  the  hem  tit  ..i 
my  knowledge  relative  to  the  best  means  of  freight  carrying  by  sea.  these 
writers  claimed  that  my  position  then  as  manager  of  the  Union  iron  Works 
accounted  for  my  interest  in  the  transportation  business.  1  will  quote  from  a 
San  Francisco  daily  of  December  21st.  1891,  as  follows:  "The  newspapers  which 
say  that  the  traffic  association  is  going  into  the  steamship  business  are 
misinformed.  Mr.  Dickie  published  an  interesting  pamphlet  setting  forth 
the  advantages  of  such  a  steamship  line.  The  connection  id'  .Mr.  Dickie's 
interests  and  those  of  the  Union  Iron  Works,  was,  of  course,  evident  to  all  and 
no  one  could  blame  the  Union  Iron  Works  for  supporting  a  project  through 
which  it  would  acquire  a  large  amount  of  shipbuilding.  According  to  Mr. 
Dickie's  pamphlet  the  building  would  mean  ten  ships  of  J6S0.000  each,  or 
$6,800,000  in  all.  The  pamphlet  was  interesting  and  therefore  was  read.  It 
is  interesting  to  note  that  Southern  Pacific  Company  individuals  control  the 
stock  of  the  Union  Iron  Works.  This  reduces  the  proposition  to  this:  The 
Southern  Pacific  Company  will  receive  $6S0,000  for  each  steamer  and  will 
actually  own  a  heavy  interest  in  what  pretends  to  be  a  competing  steamship 
line."  I  think  it  is  safe  to  say  here  that  the  Southern  Pacific  individuals  or 
the  company  itself  never  had  any  interest  in  the  Union  Iron  Works,  nor  had 
the  directors  of  the  Union  Iron  Works  any  knowledge  of  the  pamphlet  re- 
ferred to  before  it  was  published.  This  article  went  on  to  say  that.  "A  good 
line  of  steamships,  business  men  say,  would  be  of  some  value  in  the  transporta- 
tion of  freight,  and  accordingly  many  of  the  merchants  about  the  city  li;i\r 
said  they  would  subscribe  to  stock.  When  they  are  subscribing  $6,800,000  for 
a  steamship  line  they  are  removing  themselves  just  $6,80o.ui]i>  farther  away 
from  real  competition  than  they  are  now.  For  less  than  that  sum  a  railroad 
could  be  built  into  the  San  Joaquin  Valley,  and  then  it  could  issue  bonds  and 
build  with  the  money  thus  raised  to  a  connection  with  the  Santa  Fe  at  Mojave." 
Most  of  my  San  Francisco  hearers  today  will  recall  the  history  of  the  Valley 
Railroad  and  how  its  connection  was  made  with  the  Santa  Fe,  and  those  who 
do  not  like  to  hear  of  subsidizing  steamship  lines  may  remember  what  became 
of  the  magnificent  subsidy  of  land  and  harbor  facilities  granted  by  this  State 
to  the  Valley  Railroad.  This  article  said  further  that,  "A  railway  line  would  he 
paying  for  itself  all  the  time  it  was  being  built  from  the  day  it  was  out  fifty 
miles  into  the  country,  and  there  would  be  no  danger  of  wreck  or  marine  loss. 
If  any  of  the  steamships  would  sink,  and  it  is  within  the  range  of  possibility 
they  all  might,  there  would  be  at  once  a  dead  loss.  The  railway  line  would 
not  sink."  Yet  the  Valley  Railway  did  sink  and  was  a  dead  loss  as  far  as 
competition  was  concerned,  while  practically  the  line  1  had  outlined  was 
realized  some  seven  years  later  in  the  American-Hawaiian  Steamship  Company, 
their  steamships  being  as  much  better  than  I  had  advocated  as  the  advance  in 
the  shipbuilding  art  between  1891  and  1S97  made  possible.  The  splendid  man- 
agement and  merited  success  of  this  line  with  its  most  modern  equipment  of 
ships,  should  inspire  with  hope  those  who  cherish  in  their  hearts  the  Interest  of 
American   shipping. 

Were  it  but  possible  to  operate  ocean  steamships  in  foreign  commerce  as 
the  American-Hawaiian  ships  are  operated  between  our  domestic  ports  on  the 
Atlantic  and  Pacific,  we  would  now  be  doing  something  else  than  talking 
about  it.  When  we  think  of  what  the  Trans-Pacific  trade  must  become  In  the 
first  half  of  this  century,  we  cannot  but  hope  that  some  way  will  be  devised 
whereby  the  United  States  of  America  can  secure  her  fair  share  of  this  trade. 
No  one  can  claim  that  the  American  shipowner  has  not  made  greal  efforts  !«> 
obtain  and  hold  as  far  as  he  could  the  Trans-Paei tie  carrying  trade.  The 
Pacific  Mail  Steamship  Company,  first  in  the  field,  still  holds  on  to  what  it 
can  of  this  trade-  the  reward,  however,  is  more  a  question  ol  expectation  than 
realization  That  company  has  done  much  to  develop  San  Francisco's  ti 
with  4sia  'and  we  trust  that  something  may  be  done  to  make  some  satisfactory 
return  no'ssible      The  exhaustive   evidence   presented    by    the   able    manager   of 

letUin    posbiuie.        J-"<= nr.TiB-TOKslnnn.1     Merehant     Aaine    f!nm. 


144  REPORT    OF    PROCEEDINGS 

shipbuilders  of  the  United  States,  who  was  also  a  large  shipowner  (a  com- 
bination not  possihle  in  the  present  hard  times  for  the  shipbuilder),  brought 
out  to  the  Pacific  two  of  the  largest  and  best  steamers  he  had.  and  started  a 
line  between  San  Francisco  and  Australia:  Mr.  W.  H.  Webb,  1  understand,  did 
this  relying  on  a  promise  that  Congress  would  provide  some  way  by  which 
this  service  could  be  maintained  without  loss.  No  Government  aid  was  forth- 
coming, and  after  a  manly  struggle  against  adverse  circumstances,  Mr.  Webb 
abandoned  this  service  and  retired  a  poorer  and  wiser  man,  to  devote  his  old 
age  and  decreased  fortune  to  the  founding  of  an  institution  for  the  support 
of  decayed  shipbuilders,  to  which  institution  1  have  been  thinking  lately  of 
applying  for  admission.  When  Mr.  Webb  was  here  struggling  with  his  Aus- 
tralian steamship  line.  I  got  up  a  set  of  plans  for  him  for  a  screw  steamer, 
suited  for  the  service  and  the  best  thing  we  could  design  at  that  time.  Two 
of  these  were  to  be  built  if  the  Government  help  should  come,  but,  as  it  did 
no1  come,  1  finished  up  these  for  exhibition  and  sent  them  to  the  Mechanics' 
Fair,  then  being  held  in  the  pavilion  in  Union  Square.  The  committee  in 
charge  of  exhibits,  very  foolishly  I  thought  at  the  time,  but  prophetically  wise 
as  1  think  now,  placed  these  plans  for  a  Trans-Pacific  steamship  amongst  the 
Japanese  curiosities.  These  plans  were  destroyed  in  the  great  fire  of  1906, 
just  about  the  time  that  the  hardest  struggle  for  the  maintenance  of  an 
Australian  line  by  the  Oceanic  Steamship  Company  had  to  be  abandoned.  The 
first  quartz  mill  that  went  into  the  African  gold  fields  was  built  in  San  Fran- 
cisco and  a  sailing  ship  chartered  for  its  delivery.  Had  there  been  any  means 
of  ocean  transportation  between  this  port  and  the  east  coast  of  Africa,  a 
great  business  might  have  been  built  up,  in  this  class  of  machinery;  but  while 
the  mine  owners  there  liked  our  work  there  was  no  communication  wherebj 
additions  and  renewals  could  be  supplied  when  wanted,  and  this  business  went 
to  England,  to  which  they  have  a  weekly  service  of  fast  freight  and  passenger 
steamships.  Today  we  can  go  out  to  the  beach  and  look  out  on  the  great 
expanse  of  the  Pacific  Ocean,  but  under  present  conditions  we  can  do  no  busi- 
ness on  that  great  highway  with  the  peoples  that  live  beyond  it.  while  a 
nation  whose  dominion  is  not  greater  than  the  state  of  California,  and  whose 
wealth  is  less  than  that  of  our  State  in  natural  resources,  in  stretching  her 
hands  over  the  great  sea  and  sending  her  ships  in  all  directions  on  its  surface. 

Shipowning  in  Japan  for  ocean  commerce  is  a  matter  of  very  modern 
development.  Whatever  that  country  may  have  attempted  to  do  in  its  earlier 
history-,  the  year  1639  marked  a  complete  stoppage  of  foreign  trade,  for  about 
that  time  the  size  of  home-built  ships  was  limited  by  law  in  order  to  prevent 
the  people  from  venturing  too  far  from  home;  foreign  trade  was  thus  pre- 
vented for  a  period  of  fully  two  hundred  and  twenty-  years.  The  opening  of 
Japan,  in  1853,  required  a  change  of  policy,  hut  this  was  not  easily  effected; 
the  need,  however,  of  foreign  commerce  for  the  development  of  Japan  was 
emphatically  declared  by  the  Shogun's  government  in  1861.  In  lsi'.s.  just  after 
the  formation  of  the  present  form  of  government,  there  existed  forty-six  mer- 
chant vessels  aggregating  17,000  tons,  some  of  which  were  built  in  Japan,  the 
rest  purchased  abroad.  Professor  Terano,  before  the  International  Engineering 
Congress,  1904,  gave  an  interesting  account  of  the  beginning  of  the  ship- 
building  industry   in   Japan   in    "foreign"   style. 

"A  Russian  war  vessel,  the  'Diana.'  lying  at  anchor  in  the  port  of  Shimoda, 
and  demanding  a  treaty  with  Japan,  was  washed  ashore  and  sunk  by  tidal 
waves  following  the  great  earthquake  of  November  4th,  1864.  Captain  Putiatin, 
commanding  the  expedition,  having  decided  to  build  new  ships  to  take  his  men 
home,  selected  a  place  on  Heda  Pay.  not  very  far  from  Shimoda,  and  started 
the  construction  of  two  wooden  schooners,  with  timber  grown  in  that  district. 
He  employed  many  Japanese  ship-carpenters  to  assist  his  crew  in  the  building 
of  these  ships.  Thus  they  became  acquainted  with  the  construction  Of  ships 
of  foreign  type,  and  after  the  completion  of  the  Russian  schooners,  they  built 
many  of  similar  type  in  different  places  of  Japan.  These  vessels  were  known 
for  some  time  as  the  Kimisawa  type,  after  the  place  where  the  first  schooners 
were  built." 

In   L870  the  first  large  steamship  company   was  formed  In  Japan,  under  the 

nan f     the     Kwaiso      Kwaisha,     the     English     name     being     the     transport 

company;  ii  was  under  government  auspices  and  underwent  various  changes, 
in  time  becoming  the  Japan  Mail  Steamship  Company,  in  isti  another  com- 
pany was  formed,  the  Three   Diamonds  Company,  so  called   from  the  crest   and 

adopted  by  the  company.  This  company  did  such  excellent  work  for  the 
Government,   during  the   military   expedition   to   Formosa    in    1873-1874,   that    it 

was     d.emed      advisable      by      the     authorities        to     lean      largely-      upon      it      for 

support,  wind  up  the  affairs  of  the  officially  directed  company,  and  close 
the  keen  competition  that  had  sprung  up  between  the  two.  The  com- 
bined fleet  of  this  company  then  consisted  of  forty-two  ships,  six  of  them 
sailing  vessels,  the  remainder  steamers,  twelve  exceeding  1,000  tons.  In  1882 
this  company  further  strengthened  Itself  and  added  steamers  capable  of  per- 
forming the  functions  of  both  transports  and  cruisers,  a  stipulation  being 
made   bj    the   Government,    In    return    for   privileges   conceded,    that    it    was    to 


TRAMS-MISSISSIPPI    COMMERCIAL    CONGRESS  L45 

have  the  use  of  the  ships,  in  case  of  need,  on  payment  of  Ave  yen  per  ton  per 
month.      In    1882    the    gross    tonnage    owned    by    the    Mitsu    Bishi    (The    Three 

Diamonds  Company)  was  22,000.  In  the  same  year,  will,  ti„.  object  of  Increas- 
ing the  mercantile  marine,  government  supporl  was  afforded  to  a  new  com- 
pany, the  Kyodo  Unyu  (Union  Transportation  Company)  so  thai  two  com- 
panies were  again  in  the  field,  both  obtaining  large  subsidies  from  the  state 
funds.  This  lasted  until  1885,  when  an  amalgamation  was  mad.'  ami  the  now 
powerful  Nippon  Yusen  Kwaisha  (Japan  Mail  Steamship  Company)  formed  bv 
the  combination   of  the   two. 

To  the  newly  formed  Nippon  Yusen  Company  a  dividend  of  eighl  per  cent 
was  guaranteed  by  the  state;  but  this  was  commuted  in  issT  to  an  annual 
subsidy  of  800,000  yen.  In  the  years  previous  to  the  war  with  China  this 
enterprising  company  made  steady  progress,  established  a  line  to  Bombay  in 
1892.  also  gave  service  to  Australia  in  one  direction  and  to  Hawaii  in  the  other. 
In  the  Chinese  war  of  1894,  the  large  steamers  of  this  company  were  all  requi- 
sitioned by  the  Government,  and  many  more  were  purchased 'by  the  company 
both  for  government  needs  and  to  maintain  its  own  trade;  these  services  were 
efficiently  rendered,  and  the  company  became,  in  consequence,  stronger,  <  >n 
the  conclusion  of  this  war,  and  encouraged  by  new  and  liberal  bounties,  the 
Nippon  Yusen  resolved  on  a  larger  expansion  of  its  work,  raised  its  capital 
to  22,000,000  yen,  and  established  regular  services  to  Australia,  Kumpe  and 
America.  Large  steamers,  twelve  of  them  exceeding  6,000  tons,  were  ordered, 
mostly  from  the  Clyde  and  Tyne,  reserving  a  number  for  Japanese  construc- 
tion, to  develop  and  advance  the  art  of  shipbuilding  at  home.  Since  that  date 
the  company  has  frequently  added  to  its  fleet,  the  new  ships  being  in  recent 
years  all  built  in  Japan,  although  these  have  been  supplemented  by  the  shins 
purchased  during  the  war  with  Russia,  and  the  captured  ships  taken  over 
from  the  Government  after  the  war.  Among  those  recently  built  for  this 
company  in  Japan  I  might  mention  the  "Hitachi"  Maru,  6,715  tons,  for  tin- 
European  service;  the  Nikko  Maru,  5,539  tons,  for  the  Australian  service;  the 
Kenyo  Maru,  7,463  tons,  for  the  American  service;  and  the  six  ships  of  the 
Karao  class,  each  8,770  tons,  now  completing  and  to  be  employed  as  general 
Pacific  traders.  This  company  now  owns  and  operates  seventy-nine  steam- 
ships aggregating  261,427  tons  register,  and  six  building,  aggregating  5i'.2iii» 
tons  register.  In  the  Formosa,  Korea  and  Hong  Kong  trade,  the  Osaka  Shosen 
Kwaisha  (Osaka  Mercantile  Steamship  Company),  established  in  1884,  has  one 
hundred  and  seven  ships  in  service,  having  a  gross  tonnage  of  about  107. into 
tons.  The  Toyo  Kabusniki  (Oriental  Steamship  Company)  was  established 
in  1896;  its  first  three  steamers  were  built  in  England,  and  created  a  Japanese 
service  with  San  Francisco.  This  company  now  has  in  operation  eight  steam- 
ers, with  a  tonnage  aggregating  53,000  tons. 

The  two  great  strides  that  this  company  is  now  making  are  the  intro- 
duction of  turbine  engines,  and  the  use  of  oil  fuel.  The  'Tenyo"  Maru  (now 
running),  the  "Chiyo  Maru  (near  completion),  and  another  building,  are 
each  of  13,500  tons,  fitted  with  turbines  for  nineteen-knot  speed,  ami  are 
equipped  for  oil  fuel;  they  have  also  purchased  three-tank  steamers,  and  are 
building  two  more  of  9,320  tons  each  at  Nagasaki,  for  the  transportation   of  Oil. 

These  three  large  Japanese  companies  I  have  referred  to  receive  each 
year  definite  subsidies  for  prescribed  services  which  they  undertake:  and  they 
are  undertaking  a  Trans-Pacific  service  that  the  United  States  shipowner. 
unaided,  cannot  touch.  It  may  be  said  that  the  Japanese  Government  will 
not  be  able  to  continue  the  payment  of  so  large  bounties  to  the  ships  that 
are  thus  developing  the  trade  of  the  Pacific,  but  I  think  we  will  And  out  when 
it  is  too  late  that  Japan  can  better  afford  to  pay  what  is  necessary  to  secure 
this  trade  than  to  be  without  it.  The  Australian  Government  has  jusl  con- 
cluded a  contract  with  the  Orient  line  for  a  fortnightly  service  for  ten  years 
at  £170  000  per  annum,  as  compared  with  f  120,000  they  are  paying  now.  in 
order  to  reduce  the  ocean  time  from  696  hours  to  650  hours.     This  will   require 

the  Orient  line  to  build  six  new  steamships  of  12,000  tons  with  a   trial  Bp I   of 

eighteen   knots.     If  we   stop   to   think  about   that   $850,000    thai    the    Australian 

Gc 

six 


in  the  form  of  a  subsidy  eight  and  one-halt  per  cent  per  annum  on  the  total 
cost  of  the  new  ships  they  have  to  build  to  carry  on  the  business.  I  he  All  red 
route  traversing  the  length  of  the  Pacific  with  twenty-two-knot  ships  between 

l  gl- 
oom - 
placently   satisfied  to  take  soundings  oi   n.»  u^i,,   ^.    ...v, other 

PartGentlemen  of  the  Trans-Mississippi  Commercial  Congress,  l  talked  enough 
on  the   need  of  foreign  commerce   for  this  country,   when   we   met    In    Portland 


146  REPORT    OF    PROCEEDINGS 

three  years  ago.     I  tried  at  that  time  to  tell  you  what   was  taking  place  on  the 
Pacific;  tilings  have  developed  even  faster  than  I  dared  to  predict. 

There  is  no  other  new  ocean  to  be  discovered  on  this  world  of  ours,  for 
which  we  might  wait  another  half  century.  We  must  make  the  most  of  the 
oceans  that  lie  outside  our  doors,  inviting  us  to  share  in  the  prosperity  their 
water-borne   commerce   offers. 

To  secure  this  prize,  such  laws  will  have  to  be  enacted  to  foster  and  en- 
courage the  enterprise  of  our  merchants  and  shipowners,  as  will  place  them 
at  least  on  an  equal  footing  with  any  other  nation  seeking  the  same  business. 
Whatever  others  may  do  to  secure  the  trade  of  the  Pacific,  we  must  meet  with 
something  as  effective.  When  our  ships  are  thus  encouraged  they  will  carry 
our  products  and  manufactures  to  the  farthest  corners  of  tin-  world  and  our 
trade  will  flourish   where  our  flag  flies.      (Applause.) 

I  have  been  asked  by  one  of  the  California  delegation  to  mention  three 
other  things,  that  is,  the  period  set  for  the  termination  of  the  shipping  laws 
as  affecting  the  Philippine  Islands  drawing  to  a  close,  as  the  first  of  them. 
Strong  efforts  will  be  made,  in  order  to  have  the  conditions  prevailing  at  pres- 
ent continue.  It  has  been  promised  from  time  to  time  that  the  laws  regulating 
coastwise  commerce  on  our  own  coast  should  apply  to  the  Philippine  Islands. 
I  do  not  know  whether  our  shipowners  are  ready  for  such  a  thing  yet,  or  not. 
I  think,  however,  they  would  like  to  make  an  effort  to  take  hold  of  it,  if  they 
get  the  opportunity,  and  Congress  should  give  them  the  opportunity  by  putting 
the  Philippine  Islands  on  the  same  footing  as  regards  coastwise  trade  as  our 
own  coast  is  upon,  so  that  American  ships  and  only  American  ships  can  do  that 
coast  trade.  It  is  pretty  hard  to  think  that  there  are  on  the  Philippine  Coast 
today  English  and  German  steamers  of  small  class,  from  four  hundred  to  eight 
hundred  tons,  doing  the  coasting  trade  for  the  Philippines.  There  are  over 
four  hundred  of  those  steamers,  and.  we  have  probably  fifty  or  sixty  such 
steamers  around  our  harbor  in  San  Francisco  bay  today  on  the  mud  flats  and 
nothing  for  them  to  do. 

Another  point  that  I  was  asked  to  bring  before  you  was  the  Canal  Zone. 
That  is  supposed  to  be  United  States  territory,  and  the  same  thing  should  apply 
there  between  the  ports  of  the  United  States  and  the  Canal  Zone.  United  States 
ships,  and  United  States  ships  only,  should  be  allowed  to  trade.  That  would 
bring  a  considerable  amount  of  the  carrying  trade  necessary  for  the  develop- 
ment of  that  new  region,  the  prosecution  of  the  great  work  that  is  going  on 
there,  to  our  own  shipowners,  and  enable  the  shipowners  to  do  this  work  which 
they  cannot  very  well  do  now  in  competition  with  ships  that  are  manned  and 
operated  so  much  cheaper  than  their  ships  are. 

Still  another  point  I  was  asked  to  bring  before  you  was,  that  the  Govern- 
ment lately  has  chartered  a  great  many  foreign  vessels,  probably  had  to  do  so 
because  we  had  no  ships  to  offer  them — that  the  Government  had  to  charter 
these  vessels  to  bring  coal  around  to  this  Coast  to  supply  the  fleet  on  its 
journey  around  the  world,  and  these  vessels  which  had  received  the  freight, 
supposed  to  be  sufficient  to  pay  for -the  vessels  getting  back  home  again  after 
they  discharged  their  cargo,  discharged  their  cargoes  here  and  laid  at  our 
wharves  and  took  freight  to  other  ports  away  from  our  ships,  because  they 
could  afford  to  do  it,  seeing  that  they  have  already  been  compensated  by  our 
Government  for  the  work  both  ways,  and  they  have  been  taking  this  freight 
at  half  rates. 

These  are  things  that  should  receive  the  attention  of  Congress.  These  are 
things  that  this  Trans-Mississippi  Commercial  Congress  should  bring  to  the 
attention  of  our  lawmakers,  so  that  they  can  devise  some  wav  bv  which  relief 
can  be  brought  to  the  shipowners  of  the  United  Slates,  so  that  the  shipowning 
business  may  become  possible,  may  become  profitable,  ami  out  of  it  may  grow 
the  industries  that  cluster  around  successful  foreign  commerce.      (Applause.) 

President   Smith: 

We  have  now  three  minutes  for  discussion  of  this  paper;  that  is,  three 
minutes  will  be  allowed  anyone  who  desires  to  discuss  the  question. 

Mr.  I.  N.  Hibberd,  of  San  Francisco: 

I  would  like  to  ask  Mr.  Dickie  if  he  will  not  include  in  his  recommen- 
dations to  Congress  the  right  of  this  Coast  to  supply  the  warships  with  coal 
on  this  Coast  while  they  are  on  this  Coast   and  only  cruising  for  practice 

purposes. 

Mr.    Dickie: 

I  did  not  quite  catch  the  question. 


TRANS-MISSISSIPPI    COMMERCIAL    CONGRESS  147 

Mr.  Hibberd: 

I  want  to  know  why  the  coal  of  this  Coast  will  not  do  for  warship  pur- 
poses on  practice  cruises,  when  it  is  used  on  merchant  ships  for  Trans-Pacific 
trade. 

Mr.  Dickie: 

That  is  a  pertinent  question,  and  a  question  that  the  Pacific  Coast  might 
with  good  grace  ask  our  Navy  Department.  I  have  often  asked  the  Navy 
Department  why,  for  cruising  purposes,  the  coals  here  on  our  Coast  were  not 
suitable.  One  reason  given,  and  I  think  it  is  probably  the  strongest  reason, 
is  the  very  large  amount  of  ash  resulting  from  the  burning  of  our  coals. 
You  take  the  coals  such  as  are  being  consumed,  we  will  say,  on  the  Pacific 
Coast  Steamship  Company's  vessels,  and  they  have  from  twenty  to  thirty 
per  cent  of  ashes  after  their  burning,  and  you  know  they  have  had  to  be 
fitted  with  special  ash  hoisting  arrangements,  and  they  could  not  get  ready, 
on  any  of  the  warships,  with  the  present  appliances  on  board,  to  get  the 
ashes  away  after  consumption  of  the  coal,  as  to  many  of  our  Coast  coals. 
Now,  those  coals,  notwithstanding  the  fact  that  they  produce  a  large  amount 
of  ash,  are  very  effective  coals.  I  can  tell  you  this,  that  in  the  trials  that 
we  had  of  the  two  ships,  the  President  and  the  Governor,  with  New  River 
coal,  the  best  coal  that  could  be  got  on  the  Eastern  side,  we  could  not  get 
any  better  results  with  that  coal  than  we  do  with  the  coal  that  they  are 
using  on  the  steamships  on  this  Coast — not  a  bit  better.  But  we  did  not 
use  so  much  of  it,  did  not  burn  so  much  of  it.  The  coal  here  burns  very 
much  more  rapidly,  and  it  requires  more  labor  to  handle  it,  and  that  is 
another  objection  of  the  Government,  made  at  the  times  when  I  have  pre- 
sented the  question  to  the  proper  authorities.  But  I  think  that  if  those  inter- 
ested in  the  coals  of  the  Pacific  Coast  made  the  proper  representations  at 
Washington,  they  might  command  a  hearing  that  might  result  in  a  fair 
effort  being  made  to  use  those  coals. 

Mr.   Hibberd: 

I  understand  that  Alaska  has  a  coal  that  meets  every  requirement 
the  Government  asks.  If  they  did  not  bring  the  Eastern  coals  to  this  Coast 
for  warship  purposes,  would  it  not  tend  to  develop  the  natural  resources  of 
Alaska  in  that  respect? 

Mr.  Dickie: 

Most  certainly,  and  I  think  that  is  a  great  point  for  those  interested, 
in  fact,  for  the  whole  community  here,  to  bring  before  the  Navy  Depart- 
ment. We  have  a  California  man  as  Secretary  of  the  Navy,  and  I  do  not 
see  why  he  could  not  be  forced  into  making  a  right  and  proper  use  of  any 
materials  that  can  be  used  here  for  the  ships  that  are  stationed  on  the 
Pacific  Coast,  at  least. 

President  Smith: 

Are  there  any  further  questions?  If  not,  the  Congress  will  be  adjourned 
until  8  o'clock  this  evening,  at  which  time  we  will  listen  to  an  illustrated 
lecture  of  some  moment,  and  there  will  be  a  speech  by  Mr.  Eddy  on  "Good 
Roads." 


EIGHTH   SESSION 


Thursday    Evening,   October  8,   1908. 

Past   President   John   Henry  Smith,  of   Utah: 

Mr.   J.    M.    Eddy,  of  the   California   Good   Roads   Association,    will   now 

address  the  Congress. 

"GOOD     ROADS." 

Il>     >lr.    J.    >1.    Eddy,    of    California,    Secrclarj     California    Good    Itoiul.s    Axsociii- 
1 1  '•  n  : 

Mr.  Chairman,  Ladies  and  Gentlemen:  I  do  not  wish  to  lose  a  single 
minute  of  this  Congress  in  making  an  apology,  or  in  explanation  or  even 
complaint,  but  inasmuch  as  one  of  the  speakers  has  classed  the  men  that 
came  to  the  platform  as  "common  liars,  damned  liars,  and  statisticians."  if 
the  secretary  will  entertain  it,  I  venture  the  request  that  1  he  put  among 
statisticians.  It  is  almost  impossible  to  present  what  I  have  to  submit  to- 
night without  reference  to  statistics,  and  really  statistics  formed  a  logic  of 
the   subject  and  consequently   we  must   have   them. 

Allow  me  to  state  further  that  from  the  viewpoint  of  the  community 
which  I  have  the  honor  to  represent,  up  at  Stockton,  where  for  fifty  years 
we  have  had  the  use  of  God-forsaken  and  Government-neglected  waterways, 
we  have  transported  on  them  products  at  a  minimum  cost  of  five  mills  per 
ton  while  during  that  fifty  years;  and  where  we  have  followed  the  public  high- 
ways, according  to  the  statistics  of  the  United  States,  the  cheapest  farm 
products  that  are  transported  over  roadways,  namely,  barley,  are  hauled  at 
a  cost  of  twelve  cents  per  ton  per  mile,  twenty-four  times  what  it  costs  by 
waterways.  And  I  think  it  is  time  for  all  the  other  kinds  of  liars  to  sit  up 
and  take  notice   of  the  statistician. 

THK  HIGHWAYS   PROBLEM. 

In  the'  United  States  we  have  three  services  that  may  be  classed  as 
types  of  public  ownership  of  utilities.  With  these  three  utilities  the  people 
of  all  the  states  come  into  daily  contact,  and  they  affect  most  powerfully 
and  continuously  American  civilization  and  contentment.  From  the  founda- 
tion of  the  Government  these  utilities  have  been  owned  and  managed  by 
the  people  through   the   instrumentality   of  Federal,   state   or  municipal   law. 

The  Federal  Constitution  reserved  to  Congress  entire  control  of  the 
postal  system.  It  started  with,  and  has  continued  under  a  centralized  system 
directed  by  a  responsible  head.  It  has  an  army  of  trained  employees,  operat- 
ing under  civil  service  provisions,  and  not  subject  to  removal  for  partisan 
reasons.  The  result  has  been  not  only  a  satisfactory  service  to  our  own 
people,  but  a  universal  verdict  among  intelligent  men  that  it  is  the  cheapest, 
safest  and  best  postal  service  as  a  whole  ever  established  anywhere  in  the 
world. 

The  Federal  Government  has  no  direct  voice  in  the  management  of  the 
public  schools,  but  it  has  contributed  most  liberally  for  their  support.  It 
has  made  grants  of  lands  to  the  several  states,  the  proceeds  from  which  were 
to  be  used  exclusively  for  the  support  of  public  schools.  The  permanent 
school  funds  of  most  of  the  states  have  been  derived  from  the  sale  of  these 
lands.  Thus  we  have  "National  Aid"  to  free  public  schools.  Within  the 
states  are  organized  systems  of  school  administration  under  responsible 
and  generally  efficient  heads.  But  the  real  basis  for  efficiency  rests  in  the 
law,  where  there  are  provisions  for  licensed  corps  of  teachers,  for  revenue 
i  state  aid),  for  local  or  municipal  co-operation,  and  for  supervision  and 
administration  independenl  of  political  Influence.  The  free  school  system 
of  the  United  States,  though  varying  in  details  In  the  different  states,  is 
conceded  to  he  the  most  satisfactory  and  successful  known  in  the  world. 
So  it  is  apparent  thai  efficiencj  and  success  of  a  public  utility  do  not  depend 
wholly  on  federal  control  and  management.  Here  we  have  a  wonderful 
institution  reaching  into  every  locality,  benefiting  every  family,  in  the 
support  of  which  the  Nation,  the  state,  the  county  and  the  city  co-operate, 
hut  for  which  the  state  law  provides  the  system  of  organizaion  while  local 
authorities  actually  administer  the  service. 

The   public   highways   of  the   United   states,   outside   of   Incorporated   cities 

and   towns,  amount    to   2,E ,000   miles  of  passagt  ways   for   transportation   and 

travel,  and  embrace  an  actual  area  of  land  exceeding  the  combined  area 
of  the  Important  states  of  Massachusetts,  Maryland,  New  Jersey  and  Dela- 
ware    20, ,000    acres    In    roads.      These    four    states    sustain    a    population    of 

6, ,000     Inhabitants,    and    as    common     highways    traverse    more     frequently 

the  best  parts  of  our  country,  it  would  not  be  an  extravagant  estimate  to 
state  that,   if  the   20,000.000  acres  of  land  embraced   In   roads  were  devoted   to 


TRANS-MISSISSIPPI    COMMERCIAL    CONGRESS  149 

agricultural    purposes,    the    market    value    of   the   area   would   be    $1,000,000,000 
and  it  would  sustain  in  prosperity  six  million  inhabitants. 

We  have  no  uniform  system,  no  organized  administration,  no  trained 
force  of  roadmakers,  no  protecting  wall  to  keep  out  politicians,  no  adequate 
system  of  accounting,  no  public  conception  of  the  fact  that  in  an  age  of 
specialization,  so  intricate  a  problem  as  the  improvement  and  up-keep  of  a 
plant  which  has  cost  us  a  billion  dollars,  which  is  used  every  day  century 
in  and  centurv  out,  which  has  more  to  do  with  the  prosperity  and  the 
comfort  of  all  the  people  than  any  other  factor  except  weather  and  on  which 
we  expend  annually  $80,000,000  just  to  keep  it  running — that  this  great  public 
interest  is  left  the  prey  to  chance,  to  incompetency,  to  abuse,  and  often  to 
graft. 

The  public  highway  system  of  the  United  States  lias  been  a  complete 
failure  and  is  more  than  two  generations  behind  the  highway  systems  of 
the  progressive  nations  of  Europe.  It  is  a  failure,  not  because  of  public 
ownership,  but  because  it  has  never  been  systematized,  organized,  adminis- 
tered, specialized,  properly  accounted  for,  and  made  uniform.  Higrhwavs  carry 
the  commerce  of  the  country.  They  carry  annually  250,000,000  tons  of  agricul- 
tural products.  They  carry  fully  fifty  million  people  back  and  forth  to  their 
trading  centers  and  daily  avocations.  They  constitute  the  primary  and  most 
important  avenues  of  transportation.  As  such  they  merit  the  best  thought 
and  best  efforts  of  all  the  people  all   the   time. 

Transportation  on  the  public  highways  to  be  efficient  and  economical 
must,  like  transportation  on  a  waterway  or  a  railroad,  have  three  elemental 
factors  favorable,  namely,  application  of  proper  power,  an  easily  worked 
vehicle  adjusted  to  the  load  and  the  road,  and  a  smooth  and  uniform  road- 
way. With  our  improved  vehicles  and  our  superior  roadsters,  the  American 
producers  should  be  enabled  to  move  the  250.000,000  tons  of  agricultural 
products  to  the  shipping  points  at  a  less  figure  than  it  could  be  done  in 
Europe.  But  owing  to  the  wretched  condition  of  rural  roadways  it  costs  us 
annually  $125,000,000  more  to  move  our  farm  crops  to  the  shipping  points 
than  it  would  cost  in  France,  England  or  Germany,  to  move  the  same  number 
of  tons  the  same  distance.  To  save  that  annual  burden  of  $125,000,000  extra 
cost  would  warrant  us  in  expending  two  billion  and  a  half  dollars  in  road 
improvements. 

This  is  an  age  of  speed,  comfort,  convenience.  Contests  of  speed  are 
the  most  interesting  and  exhilarating  today  just  as  they  were  in  the  days 
of  "Ben  Hur."  The  speed  of  the  train,  the  auto-car,  the  vessel,  the  horse,  the 
dog,  even  the  community,  is  the  one  quality  which  carries  us  all  off  our 
feet  and  lifts  our  civilization  out  of  and  beyond  the  stagnation  which  plunged 
the  world  into  the  dark  ages.  We  are  living  a  faster  and  a  better  life  than 
did  our  ancestors  in  the  years  agone,  and  we  are  entitled  to  the  equipment 
that  will  enable  us  to  keep  the  pace.  We  are  getting  across  the  Atlantic 
quicker.  We  are  traveling  by  rail  at  the  rate  of  a  mile  a  minute.  Our 
electric  lines  are  whisking  us  away  from  the  turmoil  and  crowds  of  the 
city  to  quiet  rural  homes,  miles  distant,  in  as  many  minutes.  And  now  has 
come  the  motor  car — a  perfect  vehicle  with  ample  power — capable  of  carry- 
ing us  safelv  over  a  proper  highway  in  competition  with  the  speed  of  the 
locomotive  or  the  electric  car.  It  finds  that  while  railroads  and  electricity 
have  been  developed,  while  steamships  have  displaced  sailing  vessels,  while 
typewriters  have  done  away  with  handwriting,  and  linotypes  with  printers, 
that  public  roads  of  America  are  just  what  they  were  a  century  ago,  and 
all   attempts   to   improve   them   are   met   by   obstacles   and   confusion. 

The  West  is  not  alone  in  the  wretchedness  of  its  public  highways  and 
the  waste  of  highway  funds.  Excepting  a  few  isolated  instances,  here  and 
there  over  the  country,  American  highways  are  merely  tolerable  at  one  or 
all  seasons  of  the  vear.  We  expend  annually  $80,000,000  for  road  construc- 
tion and  maintenance  and  three  times  as  much  for  the  difficult  transporta- 
tion of  our  products  over  the  roads.  The  $S0,000,000  expended  is.  of  course, 
not  entirely  wasted,  as  large  sums  are  really  required  to  put  the  roads  in 
usable  condition  for  certain  seasons,  but  a  large  proportion  of  the  $80,000,000 
is  needlessly  expended  because  we  do  not  expend  more  and  perform  our 
work  better. 

I  am  thoroughlv  convinced  that  the  deplorable  condition  of  the  roads 
delayed  the  conclusion  of  the  great  Civil  War  for  two  years  and  thus  cost 
the  Nation  $2,500,000,000  in  useless  expenditure,  besides  the  waste  of  life. 
The  real  art  of  war  consists  in  quick  movements  of  troop  bodies,  and  the 
utility  of  improved  roadways  to  facilitate  such  movements  was  demon- 
strated in  the  Franco-Prussian  conflict,  which  ended  in  a  few  months.  But 
the  details  of  every  advance  or  retreat,  every  campaign,  of  the  Civil  War 
in  America  are  filled  with  accounts  of  the  deplorable  roads,  abandoned 
ordnance,  mired  and  delayed  trains,  the  stalled  horses  and  mules,  lost 
arms  ammunition  and  food.  Thus,  we  are  today  encumbered  with  a  debt 
of  nearly  $1,000,000,000  which  is  due  to  the  lack  of  improved  highways  nearly 
half  a  century  ago. 


150 


REPORT    OF    PROCEEDINGS 


It  would  seem  to  be  easy  to  gather  from  the  experience  of  other  coun- 
tries, or  the  experience  of  our  own  country  in  other  avenges  of  effort,  some 
lesson  thai  Will  lead  to  a  better  system  of  road  building  and  administration, 
and  eventuate  in  satisfactory  conditions  with  respect  to  highway  transporta- 
tion. It  is  probably  out  of  the  question  for  ,,s  at  this  late  day  to  put  the 
highways  of  the  country  under  national  control  and  management,  as  has  been 
so  successfully  done  in  the  case  of  a  postal  system,  but  there  is  no  reason  why 
the  National  Government  should  not  make  substantial  contributions  for  the 
maintenance  of  good  roadways  in  all  the  states  of  the  Union,  and  with  respect 
to  this  branch  of  the  subject.  I  think  the  most  feasible  plan  would  be  some 
such  arrangement  as  has  been  followed  by  Federal  legislation  with  respect  to 
the  public  schools. 

In  thai  case.  Federal  aid  was  extended  by  grants  id'  land,  which  have 
built  up  permanent  school  funds  in  the  various  slates,  and  thus  helped  to  main- 
tain the  schools  for  years  and  generations  after  the  grants  were  made. 
Neither   the   Federal    nor   state   governments,    in    aiding    the   public    schools,    go 

a  SChOOlhOUSe  and  equip  it  for  the  accommodation  of 
rather,  they  leave  to  local  communities  the  task  of 
then  they  supply  a  portion  of  the  funds  which  helps 
restrictions,  efficient  schools.  In  short,  they  con- 
the    maintenance   of   the  schools   and   make   it   compul- 


into  the  district  to  build 
teachers  and  pupils,  but 
putting  in  the  plant  and 
maintain,  under  proper 
tribute   largely   towards 


sory    on    the    local    community    to    provide    the    schoolhouse    and    equip    it    with 
proper  school  facilities. 

And,  while  I  think  state  aid  for  the  public  highways  where  state  aid  has 
been  granted  in  the  various  states  of  the  East,  has  been  very  useful  in  secur- 
ing some  improved  roadways,  I  feel  that  the  policy  was  begun  in  the  wrong 
way.  and  the  real  interest  of  both  state  and  national  authority  should  be  in 
providing  a  fund  for  the  maintenance  of  suitable  roadways  after  the  local 
communities  have  seen  tit  to  construct  them  in  a  proper  manner  after  methods, 
rules,  and  supervision  provided  by  the  state  or  the  Nation.  I  think  such  a 
policy  would  solve,  in  large  measure,   our  public   highway  problem. 

In  America  we  cannot  rely  on  measures  that  may  prove  successful  under 
the  more  arbitrary  governments  of  Europe.  This  is  especially  true  in  regard 
to  the  control  and  management  of  public  highways  where  the  people  have  had 
an  experience  of  a  hundred  or  more  years  of  local  control  and  mismanagement. 
Our  people  are  jealous  of  their  local  convictions  and  while  it  is  necessary  to 
remove  the  supervision  from  local  inlluence,  that  supervision  can  be  better 
through  a  penalty  of  loss  of  state  and  national  aid  than  by  coercive  measures 
under  the  general  laws.  In  fact,  I  would  adopt  the  same  policy  for  the 
building  and  upkeep  of  public  highways  that  has  been  successful  in  founding 
and  maintaining  a   system  of  public  schools. 

West  of  the  Mississippi  are  over  1,050,000  miles  of  public  roads,  nearly 
half  of  the  highway  mileage  of  the  entire  country.  This  mileage  is  increasing 
at  a  rapid  rate  and  will  soon  exceed  the  mileage  of  the  region  east  of  the 
Mississippi.  Yet  we  expend  only  about  $23,500,000  annually  on  Trans-Missis- 
sippi roadways,  while  the  eastern  region  expends  $56,000,000.  Our  expenditures 
for  construction  and  maintenance  per  mile  average  less  than  $25  annually, 
while  east  of  the  river  the  average  is  over  $50  per  mile.  The  acreage  em- 
braced in  Trans-Mississippi  highways  exceeds  8, 400,000  acres.  At  the  minimum 
price  for  Government  land,  that  would  mean  an  investment  of  $10,500,000  at 
least  in  the  land  for  roadways,  and  at  $20  an  acre  an  investment  of  $168,000,000. 
This  is  the  people's  franchise  for  transportation  and  deserves  better  attention. 
Were  1  permitted  to  draft  a  plan  for  the  administration  of  a  state  system 
of  highways  for  the  state  of  California,  or  for  any  of  our  states  in  the  extreme 
West,  where  we  have  vast  stretches  of  territory  holding  a  sparse  population, 
diversity  of  soil  and  climate,  many  objects  of  natural  scenery  to  tempt  the 
sightseer,  anil  innumerable  resorts  for  pleasure  and  health.  I  would  frame  the 
laws  to  contain  the  following  provisions: 

First— A  generous  appropriation  for  state  aid.  with  a  provision  for  the 
devotion  of  the  major  part  of  such  fund  to  the  maintenance  of  thoroughfares 
once   suitably   Improved   and  embracing  exactions  for  an  annual   increase. 

Second  A  state  commission  of  three,  one  of  whom  should  be  the  state 
engineer,  in  states  where  such  office  exists,  the  commission  to  be  appointed  by 
the  governor  for  a  term  of  six  years,  the  term  of  one  commissioner  expiring 
every  second  year.  These  commissioners  should  draw  a  liberal  salary  to 
attract  able  men,  and  to  enable  them  to  devote  their  entire  time  to  highway 
matters.  This  commission  1  would  give  almost  plenary  powers  in  distributing 
and  expending  the  state  highway  fund,  except  that  expenditures  for  main- 
tenance should  be  according  to  a  fixed  rule.  The  supervision  of  ail  stale  high- 
ways  should   he   in    the    hands   of   this   commission. 

Third — The  state  commission  should  certificate  or  license  special  highway 
engineers  just  as  the  stale  Hoard  of  Education  Licenses  teachers.  There  should 
be  not  only  certificates  for  specialized  engineers,  but  all  employees  of  the  state 
on   the   highways,   in  positions  of  any   responsibility,   should   be   chosen  by  civil 


TRANS-MISSISSIPPI    COMMERCIAL    CONGRESS  151 

service  rules  after  examination  to  test  their  fitness  for  road  construction, 
maintenance,  and  care.  The  employees  should  only  be  removed  for  cause, 
after  charges  have  been  made  and  established  in  an  open  hearing. 

Fourth — The  State  University  should  be  required  to  prepare  engineers  for 
special  higuway  work,  who  may  be  graduated  directly  into  the  state's  service, 
as  naval  cadets  are  graduated  into  the  naval  service,  provided  that  a  proba- 
tion period  to  test  their  fitness  and  give  them  practical  experience  be  exacted 
under  the  commission.  And  a  regular  system  of  promotion  for  merit  should 
be  required   by   law. 

Fifth — The  law  should  require  a  system  of  exact  accounting  of  highway 
expenditures  so  that  the  records  may  conveniently  show  at  any  time  the 
complete  history  of  every  mile  of  improved  highway,  the  character  of  soil, 
topography,  materials  used  in  construction,  methods  employed  in  their  appli- 
cation, character  and  volume  of  traffic,  season  and  weather  conditions  when 
road  was  constructed,  and  the  construction  cost,  repair  cost,  and  protection 
cost  of  each  mile.  That  is  something  that  is  not  obtainable,  I  think,  in  any 
state  or  county  of  the  United  States,  so  far  as  I  know,  and  I  know  of  only 
two  or  three  cities  in  the  United  States  where  they  exact  such  information. 
I  know  that   it   is  not   obtainable   in    any  county   in  California. 

Sixth — The  county  system  of  highways  should  be  required  by  law  to  sup- 
plement and  fit  in  with  the  state  system  and  supervision.  The  main  county 
roadways  should  be  indirectly  under  the  supervision  of  the  state  commission 
and  directly  under  the  administration  of  a  county  superintendent  of  highways, 
who  must  be  equipped  with  a  license  under  the  civil  service  provisions  of 
the  state  commission,  and  whether  or  not  he  be  a  trained  highway  engineer, 
his  executive  ability,  efficiency  in  handling  men  should  in  some  way  be  tested. 
He  should  be  paid  a  sufficient  salary  to  enable  him  to  devote  all  his  time  to  the 
road  work  and  should  not  be  removed  without  cause. 

Seventh — Under  the  county  superintendent  should  be  a  number  of  road 
foremen,  chosen  for  special  fitness  by  civil  service  rules,  whose  employment 
should  be  continuous,  and  under  such  foreman  should  be  a  road  crew,  numerous 
enough  to  care  for  the  highways  in  the  district  over  which  the  foreman  has 
jurisdiction  at  all  seaspns.  These  should  be  trained  men  and  their  employ- 
ment should  be  as  nearly  continuous  as  possible.  The  superintendent  should 
have  the  privilege  of  drafting  from  these  crews  to  transfer  to  other  districts, 
or  for  special  work.  The  practice  of  promotion  for  fitness  and  merit  should 
prevail. 

Eighth — In  regard  to  the  various  byroads  and  local  highways  not  serving 
a  general  county  purpose,  there  should  be  some  check  on  their  multiplication 
and  extension.  If  public  highways  are  promoted  by  some  operator  merely  to 
further  a  real  estate  deal,  then  those  requesting  the  road  should  be  made  to 
supply  the  right  of  way  and  contribute  toward  its  grading,  improvement  and 
maintenance.  In  fact,  a  frontage  tax  might  justly  be  exacted  for  partly  sus- 
taining  local   highways. 

The  results  in  highway  construction  and  improvement,  which  may  be 
anticipated  from  state  aid  to  be  applied  in  maintenance,  is  foretold  by  the 
experience  of  California  cities  operating  under  the  Vrooman  act.  That  law 
provides  that  the  cost  of  original  improvements  be  charged  against  the  front- 
age holders,  but  when  the  improvements  have  been  accepted  by  the  city 
authorities,  the  cost  of  maintenance  and  reconstruction  must  be  borne  by  the 
city  as  a  whole.  In  every  city  operating  under  this  plan,  improvement  has 
outrun  maintenance.  The  care  of  the  highways  has  been  the  weakest  factor, 
hence  the  safest  policy  is  to  put  the  maintenance  of  all  the  chief  highways  in 
the  strong  hands  of  the  state. 

In  conclusion,  let  me  say  that  the  public  highways  are  the  primal  avenues 
of  commerce.  They  affect  the  prosperity  and  convenience  of  all  the  people. 
They  test  our  capacity  and  our  civilization.  With  the  enormous  investment 
which  our  people  have  made  and  retain  in  roadways,  it  is  a  mark  of  business 
incapacity  to  permit  their  neglect.  Their  condition  is  a  reflection  on  the 
average  intelligence  of  American  citizens,  and  consequently  an  impeachment 
of  our  capacity  for  republican  government.  In  our  great  West,  whence  has 
emanated  the  initiative  and  the  vigor  to  divert  the  tide  of  the  world's  com- 
merce, whence  came  the  inventive  genius  to  teach  the  whole  world  how  to 
mine,  how  to  reclaim  deserts,  how  to  conquer  the  ice  fields  of  Alaska — in  our 
great  West  should  be  found  the  vigor,  the  determination,  the  knowledge,  and 
the  unity  of  purpose  to  wrench  our  1,050,000  miles  of  highways  from  the 
dominion  and  abuse  of  politics  and  inefficiency,  and  to  install  them  as  a 
co-agency  with  the  public  schools  in  the  regard  and  pride  of  the  people.  The 
trend  of  empire  is  still  westward,  and  no  efforts  on  our  part  can  con- 
tribute more  to  development  and  contentment,  in  our  western  commonwealths, 
than  to  make  our  highways  hard,  smooth  and  enduring.  Let  us  of  the  West 
join  hands  to  set  a  pace  for  the  East  to  follow.  Every  pound  of  produce 
shipped  by  rail  or  water  must  first  be  transported  over  the  public  roads  by 
wheeled   vehicles.      We    have   only   to   perfect   our   state   highway   systems,    sell 


152  REPORT    OP    PROCEEDINGS 

our  bonds  for  good  roads  to  Easterners,  and   then   entire   the  hondholders  here 
to  enjoy  the  roads  and  help  us  pay  themselves  back.     I  thank  you.     (Applause.) 

By  President  Smith: 

Three  minutes  will  be  allowed  to  any  gentleman  who  wishes  to  discuss 
this  question  of  good  roads.     Mr.  Eddy  will  answer  any  questions. 

By  L.  E.  Blochman,  of  Santa  Maria,  Cal.: 

I  just  want  to  ask  a  question,  whether  the  State  Legislature  is  going 
to  entertain  the  proposition  of  public  roads.  Someone  in  California  can 
probably  answer  the  question.  Will  the  state  of  California  entertain  a  prop- 
osition this  year  of  legislation  in  regard  to  State  highways  or  not?  There 
are  several  counties  in  the  State  interested  in  building  public  highways, 
and  in  opposition  to  that  those  who  are  opposed  to  it  claim  that  the  State 
legislators  are  to  take  into  their  hands  this  year  the  matter  of  public  high- 
ways and  possibly  bond  the  State  for  eighteen  or  twenty  million  dollars  for 
public  highways.  Does  anyone  here  know  that  that  is  so  or  not?  The  reason 
I  am  asking  that  question  is  that  in  my  own  county  of  Santa  Barbara  they 
are  agitating  for  public  highways,  and  those  opposed  to  it  say  the  State  will 
take  the  matter  up. 

By  Mr.  Eddy: 

My  idea  is  that  the  State  will  improve  the  highways  to  the  extent  of 
3,000  miles;  we  have  15,000  miles  in  this  State.  Providing  they  are  able  to 
pass  the  bond  issue  proposed,  there  would  be  less  than  one -fifth  of  the  road 
mileage  of  the  State  improved.  So  there  is  not  likely  to  be  any  conflict  in 
that  regard.  The  idea  of  building  three  highways  the  length  of  the  State 
where  every  one  wants  them  is  preposterous. 

By  Mr.  Blochman: 

The  question  at  issue  is  upon  the  main  highways;  that  is,  does  the 
State  propose  to  build  them  or  will  they  be  left  to  the  counties? 

By  Mr.  Eddy: 

You  cannot  predict  what  the  Legislature  will  do.  There  is  a  proposition 
before  the  State  Legislature  to  build  what  they  call  the  Camino  Real,  that 
is,  a  highway  from  the  southern  boundary  of  the  State  to  Siskiyou.  We 
have  some  California  people  that  ought  to  be  able  to  answer  that.  I  think 
Mr.  Briggs  could  probably  do  so. 

By  Mr.  Briggs: 

I  do  not  understand  that  it  is  the  purpose  of  the  State  to  interfere  at 
all  with  the  counties  bonding  themselves  for  the  building  of  roads  within 
the  counties.  The  proposition  of  State  roads,  under  the  suggestion  of  Gov- 
ernor Gillett,  is  for  the  bonding  of  the  State  for  eighteen  millions  of  dollars, 
merely  for  the  purpose  of  constructing  two  great  highways  from  the  north- 
ern boundary  of  the  State  to  the  southern  boundary,  and  likewise  two 
highways  from  the  eastern  boundary  to  the  western,  those  highways  to  be 
State  roads,  maintained  by  the  State;  but  that  does  not  in  anywise  interfere 
with  the  counties.    The  counties  are  to  build  their  own  roads. 

By  Mr.  Blochman: 

They  will  pass  through  the  counties. 

By  Mr.  Briggs: 

Yes,  but  the  county  roads  would  only  intersect  the  State  roads. 

By  Mr.  Blochman: 

But  if  the  State  builds  that  road,  the  counties  do  not  have  to  build  that 
same  road. 


TRANS-MISSISSIPPI    COMMERCIAL    CONGRESS  153 

By  Mr.  J.  J.  Gosper,  of  Los  Angeles,  Cal.: 

I  want  to  say  to  the  people  all  over  the  Coast  that  Los  Angeles  County 
has  set  an  example  for  the  West  to  follow.  As  Mr.  Briggs  has  just  said, 
the  State  proposes  to  build  roads  through  the  State.  In  Los  Angeles 
County  recently  $2,500,000  of  bonds  were  voted  for  the  improvement  of  our 
roads.  There  will  be  three  hundred  and  some  odd  miles  of  road  constructed 
because  of  the  bonds  that  were  voted.  The  counties  up  and  down  this 
Coast  should  make  that  their  plan  of  road-building.  That  is  all  I  wanted  to 
say. 

By  President  Smith: 

Mr.  J.  B.  Lippincott,  of  Los  Angeles,  California,  will  speak  upon  "Munici- 
pal Water  Development  in  Los  Angeles  and  Its  Aqueduct,"  being  an  illus- 
trated lecture. 

"LOS    ANGELES    AQUEDUCT." 
By   Mr.  J.  B.   Lippincott   of  California. 
By  Mr.  Lippincott,  Assistant  Chief  Engineer  of  Los  Angeles: 

Mr.  Chairman  and  Ladies  and  Gentlemen:  Central  and  northern  California 
are  particularly  blest  by  great  natural  opportunities.  I  know  of  no  section  of 
arid  America  or  of  any  portion  of  the  country  west  of  the  Mississippi  where 
such  great  opportunities  are  to  be  found  for  development  along-  manufacturing, 
commercial  and  agricultural  lines  as  the  great  central  valleys  of  California. 
The  Sacramento  Valley  contains  2,600,000  acres  of  land  and  is  capable  of  pro- 
ducing well  any  crop  practically  that  is  grown  within  the  United  States.  The 
Sacramento  Valley  in  my  judgment  is  the  greatest  undeveloped  opportunity  in 
the  United  States  today.  Enough  water  annually  passes  down  this  valley  in 
an  average  year  to  cover  it  to  a  depth  of  nine  feet,  and  more  than  enough  to 
completely  irrigate  all  agricultural  lands  within  that  district.  The  character  of 
the  problem  in  the  Sacramento  Valley  requires  a  combined  study  of  river 
improvement,  prevention  of  overflow  from  flood  waters,  forestation  and  irriga- 
tion. It  calls  for  co-operation  between  the  Federal  and  State  Governments 
and  local  institutions.  A  great  deal  of  work  has  been  done  in  promoting  the 
development  of  some  method  of  reclaiming  this  great  valley. 

The  San  Joaquin  Valley  lying  immediately  south,  contains  3,700,000  acres 
of  land,  equally  fertile  in  its  character  and  capable  of  producing  crops  of  a 
similar  nature.  In  this  region,  however,  the  water  supply  is  less  abundant 
than  in  the  Sacramento  Valley.  The  opportunities  for  water  power  develop- 
ment, however,  in  the  San  Joaquin  Valley,  are  very  great.  The  steams  flow- 
ing off  the  western  face  of  the  Sierras  fall  from  elevations  of  over  10,000  feet 
to  practically  sea  level  in  a  distance  of  approximately  forty  miles.  The 
normal  flow  of  the  streams  from  these  mountains  is  now  practically  all 
diverted,  except  in  flood  stages,  for  irrigation;  and  in  my  judgment  the  great 
expansion  and  development  in  the  San  Joaquin  Valley  will  be  by  means  of 
utilizing  these  water  powers  along  the  western  face  of  the  Sierras  and  pump- 
ing from  great  bodies  of  underground  waters  which  spread  pretty  much  over 
the  length  of  the  entire  San  Joaquin  Valley.  These  underground  water 
supplies  are  re-charged  by  the  flood  waters  passing  over  the  delta  cones, 
where  these  streams  issue  from  their  mountains.  In  addition  to  that  there  are 
large  bodies  of  water  which  percolate  into  the  soil  from  the  irrigation  of  the 
higher  areas. 

The  purpose  of  speaking  of  this  possible  development  in  the  San  Joaquin 
Valley,  which  is  really  in  your  immediate  neighborhood,  and  the  population  of 
which  necessarily  supports  your  city,  is  this:  When  I  was  in  the  Reclamation 
Service,  a  study  was  made  under  my  direction  of  the  water  power  oppor- 
tunities in  the  San  Joaquin  and  Sacramento  valleys,  and  we  found  then,  in 
October,  1905,  that  seventy-five  per  cent  out  of  all  the  commercially  feasible 
water  power  propositions,  in  the  San  Joaquin  drainage  basin,  had  already 
been  given  away  to  applicants  under  the  Federal  laws  for  rights  of  way; 
seventy-five  per  cent  of  the  natural  power  opportunities  on  public  domains 
in  the  forest  reservation  in  the  drainage  basin  of  the  San  Joaquin  Valley 
had  been  given  away,  and  only  two  and  one-half  per  cent  of  these  rights  that 
had  been  issued  had  actually  been  utilized  by  power  plant  construction.  The 
reason  of  my  speaking  of  that  is  this:  That  there  is  a  tendency  to  create  a 
public  opinion  or  a  feeling  to  the  effect  that  the  Federal  Government  is  putting 
undue  restriction  on  the  power  companies  in  their  requirements  concerning 
the  prompt  construction  of  plants,  and  in  reference  to  other  taxation  features 
which    they   are   alleged   to   be    imposing  upon   these   corporations;   and   resolu- 


154 


REPORT    OF    PROCEEDINGS 


tiims   will   be   introduced.    I    believe,  or   have  been   introduced    hefe,    favoring   a 
more  liberal  policy  on  the  part  of  the  Government  in  that  regard. 

I  want  to  say  that  the  Government  has  been  more  extravagant  in  giving 
away  the  natural  opportunities  for  the  development  of  power  in  the  arid 
regions,  than  in  giving  away  any  other  natural  resources  with  which  I  am 
acquainted.  And  1  want  to  say  that  I  believe  that  you  people  in  California, 
particularly  those  interested  in  the  San  Joaquin  Valley,  should  be  most  alert  to 
the  possibilities  of  awakening-,  and  yon  have  almost  arrived  at  that  point 
now,  to  the  fact  that  your  great  power  opportunities  that  are  in  that  region 
are  exhausted,  or  at  least  have  been  granted  away  in  such  a  way  that  the 
public  cannot  receive  the  benefit  of  them. 

Tlie  Reclamation  Service,  or.  rather,  the  Department  of  the  Interior,  was 
following  up  a  policy.  I  know,  for  years,  of  trying  to  hold  the  drainage  basin 
of  the  Tuolumne  River,  both  with  reference  to  its  reservoir  sites  and  with 
reference  to  the  opportunities  for  power  development,  for  the  benefit  of  this 
region.  I  cannot  say  absolutely  now  that  these  power  rights  on  the  Tuolumne 
have  been  given  away,  but  two  years  ago  they  had  not  been;  and  I  should 
think  the  people  of  San  Francisco  ought  to  watch  that  stream  with  great 
diligence. 

In  southern  California  now  practically  every  natural  opportunity  of  devel- 
oping power  on  the  public  domain  has  already  been  given  away;  we  have 
none  left — that  is,  along  streams  that  are  natural  streams,  streams  in  forest 
reserves  flowing  into  those  southern  valleys.  The  local  water  supply  in 
southern  California  has  been  utilized  or.  as  they  express  it  down  there,  devel- 
oped in  the  most  remarkable  way.  We  not  only  have  diverted  the  surface 
streams,  but  we  have  put  in  dams  across  the  mouths  of  mountain  canyons 
and  brought  up  the  underflow;  and  we  now  have  gone  down  into  the  valleys 
and  pumped  water  from  these  plains  on  which  these  streams  in  flood  spread 
not  until  we  have  now  got  to  the  point  in  and  around  the  city  of  Los  Angelt  s. 
at  ieast,  where  we  are  getting  the  surface  and  the  underflow  water  and  are 
lowering  the  permanent  water  level  of  what  we  call  the  ground  water.  We 
are  lowering  the  ground  plane  of  the  water  throughout  tl  c.  country,  because 
we  are,  as  it  were,  drawing  on  our  bank  account  so  far  as  the  water  resources 
are  concerned. 

Realizing  this  situation  and  also  the  rapid  growth  of  our  city — and  T.os 
Angeles  has  trebled  in  population  in  eight  years  and  has  Quadrupled  in 
assessed  valuation  in  that  time — realizing  that  we  were  uo  to  the  point  of  com- 
plete consumption  of  our  parent  supply,  we  resolved,  or  those  in  authority  re- 
solved to  seek  new  supplies  for  the  city,  an  adequate  new  supply.  The 
question  was  thoroughly  debated  whether  we  should  endeavor  to  take  by  con- 
demnation streams  that  were  already  being  used  for  the  cultivation  of  the 
highest  priced  fruits  in  our  back  country  or  in  our  neighborhood — used  any- 
way where  small  towns  were  rapidly  developing,  where  lands  were  worth 
a  thousand  dollars  an  acre;  or  whether  we  should  endeavor  to  go  to  some 
remote  region  where  the  waters  were  not  of  such  great  value  and  bring  in  a 
great,  new  supply  that  would  be  adequate  and  which  would  aid  not  only  in 
the  development  of  the  city  itself,  but  which  could  also  be  used  for  the  de- 
velopment of  the  entire  surrounding  country.  After  a  very  exhaustive  dis- 
cussion and  study-  of  the  subject  the  people  of  Los  Angeles  voted  by  a  ratio 
of  fully  ten  to  one  to  issue  bonds  to  the  extent  of  twenty-four  and  a  half 
million  dollars  to  go  to  the  remote  Sierra  Nevada  Range  for  a  water  supply 
and  bring  it  down  into  that  southern  country  in  an  amount  sufficient  for  our 
city  and  for   future  generations. 

A  bond  issue  for  twenty-four  and  a  half  millions  was  passed,  as  I  say. 
I  think  the  total  expenditures  of  the  Reclamation  Service  up  to  the  present 
time,  as  illustrated  by  the  slides  i  hat  we  had  last  night,  do  not  yet  exceed  that 
sum.  We  were  encouraged  in  this  great  undertaking  by-  the  fact  that  we  have 
already  there  a  municipal  water  plant  owned  by  the  city,  operated  by  the 
city,  in  a  businesslike  manner.  The  Los  Angeles  City  Water  Works  during  the 
last  Coin-  and  a  half  years  that  the  city  has  administered  it.  has  earned 
$3,700,000.  which  it  has  put  into  betterments  at  no  expense,  as  far  as  bond 
issues  or  general  taxation  is  concerned,  to  the  rest  of  the  city.  During  the 
year  1907  the  water  works  earned  a  net  income  id"  over  $soo,ooo  for  the  city  of 
Los  Angehs.  it  did  that  with  a  water  rate  of  nine  cents  a  thousand  gallons 
as    compared    to    your    water    rate    in    San    Francisco    of    twenty-five    cents    a 

thousand    gallons   and    your   rate  across  the   lay   of   over   thirty   cents   a    thousand 
gallons.      ( Appla  use.) 

In  bringing  down  this  water  supply,  we  are  not  going  to  bring  in  only 
enough  water-  to  diink.  but  we  are  going  to  bring  in  that  supply  in  such  a 
manner  that  we  will  have  enough  electrical  energj  developed  thereby  to  light 
our  town,  if  we  so  desire,  and  to  run  all  the  manufacturing  industries  of  our 
town,  if  we  so  desire.  (Applause.)  There  are  today  used  in  and  around  Los 
Angeles,  I  believe,  about    60,000   horse  power.     Within   forty   miles  of  the  city  of 


TRANS-MISSISSIPPI    COMMERCIAL    CONGRESS  155 

Los  Angeles  we  will  have  86.000  horse  power  available  from  this  aqueduct. 
The  men  who  have  been  put  in  charge  of  this  great  work  are  men  of  tried 
public  ability  and  integrity.  Lieutenant-General  Chaffee  of  the  United  States 
Army,  retired,  is  practically  the  acting  executive  head  of  the  aqueduct  organi- 
zation. Mr.  William  Mulholland  is  the  chief  engineer,  and  he  is  the  man  who 
has  brought  the  domestic  water  system  up  to  its  present  state  of  perfection, 
and  of  financial  success.  Mr.  W.  B.  Matthews,  who  is  the  advisory  counsel  for 
the  aqueduct,  has  twice  been  city  attorney  of  Los  Angeles  and  has  continually 
held  the  highest  regard  and  respect  of  the  people  of  that  city. 

I  am  telling  you  these  things  not  in  a  boastful  way  for  our  city;  I  do  not 
mean  to  do  that:  but  I  do  tell  them  to  you  because  I  think  it  is  an  example  of 
how  a  community  can  help  itself  in  utilizing  great  natural  resources.  The 
Federal  Government  cannot  do  it  all:  the  State  cannot  do  it  all  for  you;  but  we 
have  found  down  there  by  a  little  striking  out  and  assuming  responsibilities 
that  it  is  amazing  how  much  help  and  assistance  we  get  from  all  these  or- 
ganizations and  all  these  officials,  clear  to  the  President  of  the  United  States, 
who   has   been   our  great  friend  in   this  enterprise.      (Applause.) 

The  Act  of  Congress  that  authorizes  this  enterprise,  at  least,  that  author- 
izes us  to  occupy  the  public  domain,  specifically  provides  that  the  municipality 
of  Los  Angeles  never  can  sell  any  of  this  water  except  to  a  bona  fide  consumer. 
We  never  can  dispose  of  this  enterprise  or  of  this  water  to  any  water  selling 
corporation. 

I  have  a  few  lantern  slides  which  illustrates  something  of  the  work 
which  we  are  undertaking,  and  the  country  that  we  are  operating  in.  They  are 
not  as  good  as  those  we  had  last  night,  but  I  will  be  pleased  to  show  them  to 
you. 

(The  conclusion  of  Mr.  Lippincott's  exhibition  of  stereopticon  lantern 
slides  was  met  with  prolonged  applause.  The  following  statement  was  pre- 
sented to  the  Congress  by  Mr.  Lippincott:) 

An  Example  of  Conservation  of  Natural   Resources  by  Municipalities:     The  Los 

Angeles  Aqueduct. 

The  Sacramento  Valley:  Contains  an  area  of  2,660,000  acres.  Unusual 
opportunities  exist  for  storage  of  flood  waters. 

The  water  supply  on  an  average  year  is  adequate  to  cover  the  entire  valley 
nine   feet   deep. 

One  million  acres  are  now  subject  to  overflow. 

This  valley  is  capable  of  producing  well  any  crops  grown  in  the  United 
States,   but  now  is  either  undeveloped  or  largely  devoted  to  grain  farms. 

Its  development  should  be  along  the  broadest  lines  of  reclamation,  forestry 
and  navigation,  requiring  a  combination  of  federal,  state  and  local  co-opera- 
tion. 

The  area  of  San  Joaquin  Valley  is  3,770,000  acres.  Its  development  will 
probably  be  mostly  by  the  construction  of  water  power,  and  pumping  plants  for 
irrigation.  The  extent  of  underground  water  is  great;  water  power  oppor- 
tunities are  unusually  great.  For  this  reason  the  water  power  opportunities 
should  especially  be  conserved  for  future  public  use,  and  not  allowed  to  pass 
into  monopolistic  private  control,  as  is  now  taking  place.  In  October,  1905, 
an  investigation  by  the  Reclamation  Service  of  power  opportunities  in  central 
California  found  that  "75  per  cent  of  the  commercially  feasible  power  oppor- 
tunities of  northern  and  central  California  have  been  alienated  from  public 
ownership,"   also  that  "less  than   2%   per  cent  have  been  utilized." 

The  Colorado  Itivcr  is  the  American  Nile;  1,000,000  acres  are  capable  of 
reclamation,  provided  storage  reservoirs  on  the  upper  portions  of  the  drainage 
basins   can    be   utilized. 

This   problem    is    interstate    and    international    in    its    character. 

Agriculture  here  capable  of  highest  development  on  account  of  its  12- 
month    growing    season. 

Great  progress  made  both  by  Federal  and  private  works. 

The  Yuma  project  of  the  Reclamation  Service  will  reclaim  100,000  acres 
and  the  Imperial  Valley  contains  275,000  acres  of  good  land,  under  its  present 
system  in   the  United   States. 

Southern  California  is  being  developed  by  its  necessities  as  exampled  by 
the  San  Pedro  harbor,  which  is  being  created  by  a  combination  of  break- 
water construction  for  the  protection  of  its  outer  harbor,  and  the  excavation 
of  mud  flats  for  an  inner   harbor. 

Existing-  Supplies  of  Water  in  and  around  Los  Angeles  are  now  fully 
utilized,  requiring  departure  to  new  fields  for  an  extension  of  the  supply.  The 
population  of  the  city  has  trebled  and  assessed  values  quadrupled  in  the 
last   eight   years. 

Loa  Angeles   City  Water  Works  are   publicly   owned. 

Originally  the  system  was  built  for  the  irrigation  of  the  lands  of  the 
pueblo. 


156  REPORT    OF    PROCEEDINGS 

A  transformation   has   followed   from  agricultural   to  domestic   use. 

Expenditures  during-  the  past  four  and  one-half  years  for  betterment  of 
the  system,  $3,800,000,   all  from  water  revenues. 

The  net  income  from  the  city  plant  for  1907  was  $840,000,  with  water  at 
9  cents  per  thousand  gallons,  as  compared  to  25  cents  charged  in  San  Francisco, 
and  30  cents  for  towns  across  the  bay,  both  of  which  latter  plants  are  under 
private  control. 

The  lios  Angeles  Aqueduct  is  an  example  of  conservation  of  natural  re- 
sources  by   a   municipality. 

State  and  Federal  aid  freely  given  to  the  city  in  the  form  of  legislation 
and  executive  assistance. 

The  men  in  charge  are  General  Chaffee,  lieutenant-general.  U.  S.  A.,  re- 
tired; Wm,  Mulholland,  chief  engineer;  W.  B.  Matthews,  chief  counsel,  all  of 
marked  ability  and  integrity. 

The  organization  is  under  active  civil  service,  and  no  political  appoint- 
ments have  been  made. 

The  Locations  This  new  water  supply  will  be  obtained  from  Owens 
River. 

The  drainage  basin  of  Owens  River  contains  2,800  square  miles,  with  forty 
peaks  over  13,000  feet  in  elevation  and  Mt.  Whitney  14.500  feet,  the  highest 
mountain  in  the  United  States. 

The  city  now  has  bought  about  100,000  acres  of  water  bearing  land,  all 
without  any   condemnation  suits. 

The  water  to  be  conserved  is  now  flowing  into  a  salt  lake  of  100  square 
miles  in  area,   from  which  it  is  lost  by  evaporation. 

The  enterprise  distinctly  is  one  of  storage  of  flood  water. 

The  Long  Valley  reservoir  has  a  capacity  of  260,000  acre  feet,  or  85,000,- 
000,000   gallons,   is   on   the   main   river  above   the  intake. 

llawnef  reservoir,   64,000  acre  feet,  is   60  miles  below  the  intake. 

Fernando  reservoir,  36,600  acre  feet,  is  at  the  lower  end  of  the  aqueduct, 
near  -Los  Angeles. 

The  Fernando  reservoir  will  hold  a  year's  supply  for  the  present  popula- 
tion  of  Los   Angeles. 

The   aqueduct    will    consist    of: 

Lined   canals    177   miles 

Lined  tunnels    30   miles 

Pipes    10   miles 


217  miles 
The  capacity  is  400  feet  or -20.000  miners'  inches. 

The  most  striking  engineering  feature  is  the  Elizabeth  tunnel,  five  and 
one-half  miles  long,  one  mile  of  which  is  now  built.  This  tunnel  is  through 
the  crest  of  the  Coast  Range,  below  which  a  total  fall  of  1,900  feet  occurs, 
making  possible  a  power  development  within  forty  miles  of  Los  Angeles  of 
86,000  horse  power,  the  income  from  which  should  be  enough  to  pay  interest 
charges   on   the   entire   plant. 

The  estimated  cost  of  the  aqueduct,  with  lands,  but  without  power  devel- 
opment or  Long  Valley  reservoir,    is  $24,500,000. 

It  will  cost  to  build  the  power  plants  and  Long  Valley  reservoir,  about 
$8,000,000    more. 

This  is  as  great  a  figure  as  the  Reclamation  Service  is  now   expending  on 
all  of  its  projects.     Enough  water  will   be  obtained   to   supply   1,000.000  people 
and   to    irrigate   60,000   acres   of   land.      Ultimately   this    may   all   be   applied    for 
domestic   use  and  in  this  event  will  serve  2,000,000  people. 
The    preliminary   works   now    constructed   consist    of: 

Electric    power   lines    for    construction    purposes....    135   miles 

Telephone 225   miles 

Roads  and   trails    155   miles 

Railroads  being  built  by  the  Southern  Pacific  under 

contract     60   miles 

Water  mains  for  construction    71   miles 

A  cement  mill,  90  per  cent  finished,  capacity   1,200  barrels  per  day. 
Four  hospitals  have  been  built  and  a  medical  department  fully  organized. 
The    work    on    the    aqueduct    proper    is    now    progressing    at    about    thirty 
points,   and   over    1,000    men   engaged.      It    is    estimated    that    the    work    will    be 
completed   in   four   years. 

The  bonds  have  been  voted  and  contracted  for  on  a  4Y2  per  cent  basis. 

By  President  Smith: 

There  will  be  an  election  of  officers  tomorrow  morning  at  10  o'clock. 
The  Congress  will  now  be  adjourned. 


NINTH  SESSION 


Friday    Morning,   October  9,   1908. 
By   President  J.   B.   Case: 

The  hour  has  arrived  for  resolutions.     The  Secretary  will  please  read: 

By  Secretary  Francis: 

SUGAR    INDUSTRY. 

By  J.  G.    II  :imi  I  <  on     Oxnard,    California: 

RESOLVED,  That  the  domestic  sugar  industry  merits  and  is  entitled  to 
competent  and  ample  protection  and  that  this  Congress  is  opposed  to  any 
measure  that  tends  to  increase  the  importation  of  free  tropical  sugar  grown 
by  cheap  labor. 

By   Secretary    Francis: 

HUMBOLDT    BAY. 
By    P.    W.    MatthewN,    Eureka,    California: 

WHEREAS,  A  wide  and  rich  section  of  California,  comprised  in  the 
county  of  Humboldt,  is  shut  off  from  railway  communication  with  the  outside 
world;  and 

WHEREAS,  The  U.  S.  Department  of  Army  Engineers  has  recommended 
the  extension  of  the  breakwater  designed  to  prevent  shifting  sands  obstruct- 
ing the  entrance  to  Humboldt  Bay,  now  the  third  harbor  in  point  of  commerce 
on    the   California   coast,   therefore,   be   it 

RESOLVED,  That  the  Trans-Mississippi  Commercial  Congress,  assembled 
in  its  nineteenth  session,  hereby  recommends  to  the  attention  of  the  Congress 
of  the  United  States  the  necessity  for  immediate  legislation,  assuring  con- 
structive activity   in   this  matter,   and 

RESOLVED,  That  the  states  and  territories  here  represented  are  re- 
quested to  urge  their  representatives  in  Congress  to  support  the  aforesaid 
legislation. 

By   Secretary    Francis: 

PACIFIC   COAST   COMMISSION. 

By   I^eroy  A.   Wright,   California: 

RESOLVED,  That  the  Trans-Mississippi  Commercial  Congress,  in  con- 
vention assembled  at  San  Francisco,  commends  the  Congress  of  the  United 
States  for  the  liberal  policy  it  has  heretofore  adopted  in  the  protection  and 
development  of  the  National  interests  in  the  interior  territory  and  coast 
lines  of  the   Trans-Mississippi    States: 

That  inasmuch  as  the  dock  facilities  of  the  Pacific  Coast  are  inadequate 
to  care  for  a  strong  defensive  fleet  of  battleships  and  cruisers,  and  as  it  is  of 
paramount  importance  that  two  Government  docks  be  maintained,  one  at 
Bremerton,  Washington,  and  one  at  Mare  Island,   California, 

WE  THEREFORE  RECOMMEND.  That  a  commission  be  immediately 
appointed  to  investigate  and  report,  not  only  in  respect  to  needed  appropria- 
tions for  the  Mare  Island  Navy  Yard,  but  also  of  the  conditions  at  present 
prevailing,  and  to  recommend  a  plan  under  which  a  channel  of  sufficient 
depth  to  permit  the  passage  of  ships  of  the  deepest  draught  to  the  yards 
can  be  maintained  and  adequate  facilities  be  provided  to  care  for  a  battleship 
fleet   of  such   size  as  may  be  required   upon  the  Pacific  Coast. 

AND  BE  IT  FURTHER  RESOLVED,  That  this  Congress  recommends  to 
and  urges  upon  the  Congress  of  the  United  States  that  immediate  appropria- 
tions be  made  in  the  following  amounts,  and  for  the  following  purposes,  to  wit: 

(a)  That  an  appropriation  of  at  least  $259,250.00  be  made  for  the  purpose 
of  deepening  the  water  over  the  outer  bar  at  the  harbor  of  San  Diego,  and 
for  removing  the  middle  ground  in  said  harbor,  in  accordance  with  the  report 
and  recommendations  of  the  Board  of  Engineers  for  Rivers  and  Harbors, 
dated  May  11,  1908,  in  order  to  accommodate  the  naval  vessels  desiring  to 
coal  at  the  Government   coaling  station   now  being  constructed. 

(b)  That  an  appropriation  of  at  least  $284,800.00  be  made  for  the  purpose 
of  extending  the  breakwater  at  San  Pedro  harbor  from  its  present  terminus 
to  the  shore  line,  in  accordance  with  the  report  and  recommendations  of  the 
Board   of   Engineers   for   Rivers   and   Harbors,   made    February    17,    1908. 

(c)  That  an  appropriation  be  made  for  the  purpose  of  repairing  and 
extending  the  twin  jetties  at  the  entrance  of  Humboldt  Bay,  in  order  that 
the  channel  of  the  bay  may  be  rendered  safe  to  commerce,  and  that  an  appro- 
priation also  be  made  for  the  purpose  of  removing  the  hogbacks  formed  by 
the  deposit  of  sand  in  the  interior  bay. 


158  REPORT    OF    PROCEEDINGS 

(d)  That  the  amount  of  $250,000.00  lie  expended  in  the  fiscal  year  ending: 
June  30,  1909,  in  addition  to  the  balance  unexpended  July  1st,  for  works  of 
improvement  in  Oakland  harbor,  from  the  appropriation  authorized  by  Act 
of  Congress,  March  3,  1905,  in  compliance  with  recommendation  of  the  Board 
of   Engineers   for   Rivers  and    Harbors. 

(e)  That  the  sum  of  $400,000.00  be  appropriated  for  the  purpose  of  per- 
forming: the  work  specified  and  recommended  in  the  special  report  of  the 
California  Debris  Commission,  in  regard  to  the  further  appropriation  for 
the  control  of  mining,  debris,  improving  the  navigability  and  providing  for 
the  control  of  the  flood  waters  of  the  Sacramento  and  Feather  rivers,  Cali- 
fornia, dated  June  30,  1907. 

PROVIDED,  That  before  entering  upon  said  work,  or  making  said  con- 
tracts, the  Secretary  of  War  shall  be  satisfied  that  the  state  of  California 
has  appropriated,  and  that  there  is  available  from  the  funds  in  the  California 
state  treasury  an   equal   sum  of   $400,000.00    for   the  same  purposes. 

(f)  That  appropriations  be  made  for  the  purpose  of  carrying  out  the 
projects  for  the  improvement  of  Coos  Bay,  Oregon,  as  recommended  by  the 
United   States  engineers  in   their  report   to  the   Secretary   of  War,    in    1907. 

By   Secretary    Francis: 

CALIFORNIA    WINE    INDUSTRY. 
By   Colonel   John   P.   Irish,   Oakland,   California: 

The  policy  of  our  Government  has  been  to  promote  agriculture  and  horti- 
culture. As  a  result,  in  the  Trans-Mississippi  States  hundreds  of  thousands 
of  acres   of  land  and   hundreds   of   millions   of  capital   are   devoted   to   the   cul 


111.V       LU      I  c  \  ei  »t^      dliv.1      uailLci      Lilt:      [i^      a&<x  iikti      xiiuci  iv.au      o  ly  cc  l       \>  i  hi  .-^. 

This  Congress  also  requests  that  in  the  revision  of  the  tariff  there  be 
.  reduction  of  the  duties  on  the  products  of  the  vineyard,  either  directly 
or  by  reciprocity.  American  agriculture  demands  the  right  to  live  by  such 
diversity  of  products  as  our  varied  climate  permits,  and  this  Congress  asks 
that   there  be   no   discrimination   against   the   grape   and  its  products. 


By    Secretary    Francis: 

ROADS   AND  TRAILS. 

By    Ex-Governor    George    C.    Pardee.    Oakland.    California: 

We  favor  adequate  appropriations  for  the  construction  of  roads  and 
tiails  in  National  parks  and  forest  reserves,  not  only  as  a  means  of  trans- 
portation  and   communication,  but  as  a  preventive  against   forest   lires. 

By    Secretary    Francis: 

PACIFIC  GROVE  BREAKWATER. 

By  Edward   Berwick,   Pacific  Grove,  California: 

WHEREAS,  In  view  of  the  coming  increase  of  maritime  and  ion  si  wise 
commerce,  consequent  on  the  completion  of  the  Panama  Canal,  it  will  be  of 
the  utmost  importance  to  utilize  to  their  full  extent  the  few  harbors  on  our 
western    coast    between   San    Diego  and    Puget    Sound; 

BE  IT  RESOLVED,  That  this  Trans-Mississippi  Commercial  Congress, 
believing  in  the  equal  development  of  the  whole  country,  and  knowing  the 
urgent  need  of  more  water  transportation,  favors  the  proposal  now  before 
the  National  authorities  for  the  construction  of  a  breakwater  near  Pacific 
Grove,   to    make   yet   more  available   the  splendid   natural    harbor  at    Monterey. 

By    Secretary    Francis: 

POWER   DEVELOPMENT. 
H >    Ex-Governor  George   C.  Pardee,   Oakland.  California: 

RESOLVED,  Thai  the  rights  of  way  granted  by  the  Federal  Government 
for  power  development  on  the  public  domain  should  be  conditioned  upon 
continued  construction  work  in  good  faith  and  commensurate  with  a  prompt 
completion  "i   the  works  for  which  the  rights  are  requested. 


TRANS-MISSISSIPPI    COMMERCIAL    CONGRESS  159 

By   Secretary    Francis: 

BUREAU    OF   MINES. 
By   Lewis  E.  Anbury,  San  Francisco: 

WHEREAS,  There  is  now  pending-  before  the  Senate  of  the  United  States. 
House  Bill  No.  20.883,  which  provides  for  the  establishment  of  a  Bureau  of 
Mines,   and   believing'   in   the  great   beneficent    results   it    will    accomplish, 

NOW.  THEREFORE,  BE  IT  RESOLVED,  By  the  Trans-Mississippi  Com- 
mercial Congress,  in  convention  assembled,  that  we  heartily  endorse  the 
movement  to  create  a  Bureau  of  Mines,  and  we  earnestly  urge  upon  the 
Congress  of  the  United  States  that  said  bill  be  finally  enacted  at  the  earliest 
day  possible,  and  that  an  ample  appropriation  shall  be  provided  for  its 
maintenance. 

By  Secretary  Francis: 

FOREST    LANDS. 
By  Lewis   E.  Anbury,   San  Francisco: 

WHEREAS,  There  has  been  a  great  destruction  annually  in  our  forests 
caused  by  fire,  such  destruction  being  particularly  noticeable  the  past  few 
months,  and  causing  many  lives  to  be  sacrificed  and  millions  of  dollars  worth 
of   timber  destroyed,   and 

WHEREAS,  Many  of  these  fires  might  have  been  extinguished  had  it  not 
been  for  the  careless  methods  employed  by  the  lumbermen  in  permitting  the 
cuttings  and   slashings   to   litter   the   forest   lands,   and 

WHEREAS,  Most  of  the  damage  caused  by  these  fires  this  year,  accord- 
ing  to   reports   of   the   Forest   Service,   has  been   upon   private   lands,   and 

WHEREAS,  Such  careless  lumbering  methods  are  a  menace  to  not 
only  the  timber  lands  owned  by  the  Government,  but  to  other  rights  as 
well,    and 

WHEREAS.  We  do  not  believe  that  any  person  or  corporation  should 
so   conduct    its   methods   of   lumbering   as   to   menace   the   rights   of   others; 

THEREFORE,  BE  IT  RESOLVED,  By  the  Trans-Mississippi  Commercial 
Congress,  in  convention  assembled,  that  we  favor  the  enactment  of  both 
Federal  and  state  laws  which  will  compel  persons  engaged  in  timber  or 
lumber  operations  to  so  conduct  such  operations  that  the  rights  of  others 
will  not  be  endangered,  and  we  recommend  that  the  U.  S.  Forest  Service 
shall  formulate  such  drafts  of  laws,  and  the  same  shall  be  presented  at 
the  next  session  of  Congress.  We  also  suggest  to  the  state  foresters  of  the 
different  states  that  similar  laws  should  be  presented  to  the  legislatures 
when  next  in  session. 

By   Secretary   Francis: 

The  gentleman  desires  three  minutes  to  speak  on  his  resolution. 

By   President   Case: 
He  may  do  so. 

By  Iiewis  E.  Anbury,  San  Francisco: 

Mr.  President,  Ladies  and  Gentlemen:  In  submitting  a  resolution  to 
the  Trans-Mississippi  Commercial  Congress,  asking  your  endorsement  for 
the  establishment  of  a  Bureau  of  Mines,  I  believe  that  this  body  will  favor  the 
movement.  The  miners  of  the  United  States  have  for  years  advocated  a 
Department  of  Mines,  its  chief  to  form  one  of  the  President's  Cabinet.  There 
has  been  so  much  opposition  to  this  that  we  have  finally  considered  that 
"half  a  loaf  would  be  better  than  no  bread,"  and  we  have  concluded  that  if 
we  can  have  a  Bureau  of  Mines,  that  will  at  least  give  us  some  representa- 
tion at   Washington,    whereas,  at   present,   we  have  practically   none. 

I  will  not  take  up  your  time  by  quoting  numerous  statistics  showing 
the  billions  of  dollars  which  have  been  produced  by  our  mines  in  this  Trans- 
Mississippi  region,  and  the  Eastern  and  Southern  States.  Suffice  to  say 
that,  as  one  of  the  speakers  has  said  before  me,  "The  discovery  of  the  little 
nugget  of  gold  by  Marshall  at  Coloma  was  the  means  of  opening  up  and 
developing    our    "Western    Empire." 

This  is  an  illustration  of  what  the  country  owes  to  the  mining  industry. 
In  considering  the  preservation  of  our  National  resources,  how  could  we  be 
placed  in  a  better  position,  so  far  as  minerals  are  concerned,  than  to  have 
a  department  which  could  take  up  this  very  important  work?  The  bill  creating 
the  Bureau  of  Mines,  introduced  at  the  last  session  of  Congress  has  passed  the 
House,  and  is  now  in  the  Senate.  At  the  next  session  it  will  again  be  urged 
to  final  passage.  It  is  not  yet  assured,  and  therefore  it  is  my  pleasure 
to  submit  a  resolution  to  this  important  body,  and  I  trust  you  will  hearken 
to  the  appeals  of  the  miners  and  lend  it  your  unqualified  support. 

I    thank    you    for   your    kind    attention. 


160  REPORT    OF    PROCEEDINGS 

By   Secretary    Francis: 

GOVERNMBNT-OWNED  RAILROAD. 

By  Greene  Majors,  Alameda,  California: 

WHEREAS,  The  Trans-Mississippi  Commercial  Congress  was  the  pioneer 
oi  our  large  public  bodies  in  indorsing  and  advocating  a  government -owned 
isthmian  canal,  which  canal  is  now  an  assured  fact  and  will  be  of  such 
widespread   benefit;  and 

WHEREAS,  A  government-owned,  operated  and  controlled  transconti- 
nental railroad  would  be  of  equal,  if  not  of  greater  national  benefit,  than 
even  our  highly-prized   Panama  Canal;   now  therefore,   be  it 

RESOLVED.  By  the  Trans-Mississippi  Commercial  Congress,  now  again 
assembled  in  the  city  where  it  so  wisely  indorsed  the  Panama  Canal  proiect, 
that  it  advocates  and  endorses  a  transcontinental  line  of  railwav,  to  be  owned 
operated  and  controlled  by  the  United  States  Government,  to  the  end  that 
just  and  proper  rates  of  freights  and  fares  may  be  maintained  in  our  great 
and  growing  industrial  inter-ocean  section  of  the  United  States. 

By   President   Case: 

Mr.  Secretary,  please  read  this  telegram. 

By  Secretary   Francis: 

FROM  U.  S.  SENATOR  ROBERT  I,.  OWEN. 

Watonga,   Oklahoma,   October   8,    1908. 

Honorable    J.    B.    Case,     President     Trans-Mississippi     Commercial     Congress, 
San   Francisco,   California. 

I  greatly  regret  my  inability  to  be  present  with  you  at  this  session  of 
Congress.  I  sympathize  strongly  with  the  purposes  of  the  organization  and 
recognize  the  great  power  which  the  Trans-Mississippi  Commercial  Congress 
can  exercise  over  the  counsels  of  the  Nation.  I  trust  the  Congress  will  repeat 
the  resolution  on  removal  of  restrictions. 

R.    L.    OWEN. 

By  Secretary   Francis: 

It  should  be  stated  that  Mr.  Owen  is  United  States  Senator  from  Okla- 
homa, and  expected  to  be  in  San  Francisco  attending  this  session.  That 
portion  of  the  telegram  in  reference  to  the  removal  of  restrictions  will  be 
referred  to  the  Oklahoma  delegation. 

By   President   Case: 

Please  read  the  communications  received  from  the  Chamber  of  Com- 
merce of  San  Francisco,  Mr.  Secretary. 

By  Secretary   Francis: 

RESOLUTIONS    ADOPTED   AT  JOINT   MEETING,    COMMERCIAL    ORGANIZA- 
TIONS   OF    THE    PACIFIC    COAST.       HELD    IN    THE    ROOMS    OF 
THE    CHAMBER    OF    COMMERCE    OF    SAN    FRANCISCO, 
MONDAY,   OCTOBER   5.    1908. 

RESOLVED,  That  the  Interdependence  of  the  Pacific  Coast  States  neces- 
sitates united  action  in  efforts  to  secure  Federal  legislation  favoring  the 
harmonious  and  successful  expansion  of  Pacific  Coast  trade  and  the  natural 
development   of  Coast   resources. 

RESOLVED,  That  two  pressing  needs  of  the  Pacific  Coast,  admittedly 
involving  the  commercial  welfare  of  the  whole  country,  are  the  maintenance 
of  a  large  fleet  of  naval  vessels  in  Pacific  waters  and  the  Federal  legislation 
that  will  stimulate  American  shipping  and  send  our  flag  into  every  foreign 
port. 

RESOLVED,  That  in  order  to  secure  the  desired  Federal  recognition  of 
the  merchant  marine,  military,  naval,  navigation  and  collateral  interests  af- 
fecting the  trade  and  commerce  of  Pacific  Coast  ports,  we  representatives  of 
Coast  organizations,  mutually  pledge  ourselves  to  work  for  an  affiliation 
that  will  enable  the  several  Coast  States  to  exert  the  cohesive  strength  of 
a  united  community. 


TRANS-MISSISSIPPI    COMMERCIAL    CONGRESS  161 

By  Secretary  Francis: 

These   resolutions    were    accompanied    by   the    following   letter: 

The   Chamber   of   Commerce   of  San   Francisco,   San    Francisco,    October   7,   1908. 
Mr.  Arthur  R.  Briggs,  Vice-Chairman,  Executive  Committee,  Trans-Mississippi 
Commercial    Congress. 

Dear  Sir:  I  take  pleasure  in  enclosing  herewith  the  above  resolution 
unanimously  adopted  at  a  conference  of  executives  of  the  following  Pacific 
Coast  organizations  held  in  the  rooms  of  the  Chamber  of  Commerce  of  San 
Francisco,    Monday,    October    5,     190S: 

Los   Angeles  Chamber  of  Commerce, 

Oakland   Chamber   of  Commerce, 

Portland    Chamber    of    Commerce, 

Portland    Commercial    Club, 

Seattle    Chamber    of    Commerce, 

San    Francisco    Chamber    of    Commerce, 

Merchants'  Exchange  of  San   Francisco, 

California   State  Board   of  Trade, 

Merchants'    Association    of   San    Francisco, 

California  Promotion  Committee. 

May  we  ask  your  good  offices  in  seeing  that  the  resolution  is  presented 
to    the    Trans-Mississippi    Commercial    Congress    now    in    session    in    this    city. 

Yours  very  truly, 

C.  W.  BURKS, 
By   President  Case:  Secretary. 

This  resolution,  with  the  other  resolutions,  will  be  sent  to  the  Com- 
mittee on  Resolutions  for  action. 

(A  recess  was  here  taken  until  11  o'clock,  at  which  time  the  following 
proceedings  took  place:) 

Hon.   Hugh   Craig,   San   Francisco,   Past   President: 

The  Congress  will  please  come  to  order.  What  is  the  order  of  business, 
Mr.    Secretary? 

By  Secretary   Francis: 

The  special  order  of  business  for  11  o'clock  this  morning  is  the  report 
of  the  Committee  on  Permanent  Organization.  The  report  has  been  received 
and  read  and  it  now  comes  up  under  a  special  order.  (Reads  report  as 
follows: ) 

ELECTION  OE  OFFICERS. 

Mr.  President  and  Members  of  the  Trans-Mississippi  Commercial  Congress: 
A  meeting  of  the  Committee  on  Permanent  Organization  was  held  Wednesday 
evening  and  we  submit  to  the  Congress,  for  its  approval,  the  following  names 
as  officers  of  this  organization   for   the  coming  year: 

President,  Honorable  Thomas  F.  Walsh,  Denver,  Colorado. 

First  Vice-President,   N.    G.   Larimore,   Larimore,    North    Dakota. 

Second   Vice-President,    Chas.   A.    Fellows,   Los   Angeles,   California. 

Third  Vice-President,  A.  C.  Trumbo,  Muskogee,  Oklahoma. 

Fourth  Vice-President,  Herbert  Strain,  Great  Falls,  Montana. 

Secretary,   Arthur   F.   Francis,   Cripple   Creek,   Colorado. 

Treasurer,    Fred   Moffatt,    Denver,   Colorado. 

We   also    submit   the    following   suggestions    to    the    Executive    Committee: 

Chairman,    Executive    Committee,    Col.    Ike    T.    Pryor,    San    Antonio,    Texas. 

Vice-Chairman.   Sam   F.   Dutton,   Denver,   Colorado. 

Chairman,    Advisory    Board,    Arthur    R.    Briggs,    San    Francisco,    California. 

Vice-Chairman,  Honorable  James  H.  Brady,  Pocatello,  Idaho. 

Members:  W.  O.  Hart,  New  Orleans,  Louisiana;  John  Henry  Smith.  Salt 
Lake    City,    Utah;    Tom    Richardson,    Portland,    Oregon. 

We  recommend  the  appointing  of  a  special  committee  consisting  of  the 
President,  the  retiring  President,  Chairman  Executive  Committee,  Chairman 
Congressional  Committee,  Chairman  Advisory  Board,  and  Honorable  John  Bar- 
rett, to  wait  upon  the  President-elect  after  election  and  secure  his  attendance 
at  next  year's  meeting  of  the  Congress.  (Signed.)  Sam  F.  Dutton,  Denver, 
Chairman    of   Committee. 

By  President  Craig: 

You  have  heard  the  report  of  the  Committee  on  Permanent  Organization. 
What  disposition  do  you  wish  to  make  of  it?    Does  the  chair  hear  a  motion? 


162  REPORT    OF    PROCEEDINGS 

By  A.  G.  Stacey,  San   Diego: 

I  move  the  adoption  of  the  report. 

By  Mr.  D.  R.  Peeler,  Kalispell,  Montana: 
I  second  the  motion. 

By   President  Craig: 

You  have  heard  the  motion,  which  has  been  duly  seconded,  that  th<' 
report  of  the  Committee  on  Permanent  Organization  be  adopted  by  this 
Congress. 

(The  motion  was  formally  carried.) 

By    Hon.    Ed    F.    Harris,   Galveston,   Texas,    Chairman    of   the    Committee    on 

Resolutions: 

As  chairman  of  the  Committee  on  Resolutions,  I  desire  to  report  to  this 
body  that  it  will  be  absolutely  necessary  in  our  judgment  that  we  have  the 
assistance  of  a  competent  stenographer. 

By  Secretary  Francis: 

For  the  information  of  the  Senator  I  would  state  that  two  stenographers 
have  been  instructed  to  report  to  him  this  morning. 

By  President  Case  (resuming  the  chair): 

We  have  with  us  this  morning  Mr.  A.  G.  Stacey,  now  a  citizen  of  Cali- 
fornia, who  was  formerly  a  citizen  of  Kansas,  and  who  was  one  of  the  first 
members  of  this  Congress — one  of  the  first  men,  if  not  the  very  first,  who 
suggested  the  idea.     We  would  like  to  hear  from  him. 

ORIGIN    OF    THE    TRANS-MISSISSIPPI    COMMERCIAL    CONGRESS. 
By  Mr.  A.  G.  Stacey,  San  Diego,  California: 

I  do  not  think  I  will  come  to  the  platform,  because  I  think  I  would  be 
the  subject  of  stage  fright.  While  I  am  a  resident  of  California,  I  was 
formerly  a  resident  of  Kansas.  But  in  reference  to  what  Mr.  Case,  our  Presi- 
dent, had  to  say:  The  Trans-Mississippi  Commercial  Congress  v\  as  born  in 
the  short  grass  country  of  western  Kansas,  and  possibly  I  had  something  to 
do  with  the  founding  of  it.  I  was  stationed  at  the  state  capital  of  Kansas, 
Topeka,  doing  politics  for  the  Kansas  City  Journal.  Incidentally,  I  was  also 
the  secretary  of  the  legislature  which  was  then  about  to  open  its  session. 
Just  before  the  opening  I  happened  to  be  out  in  a  small  town  near  by,  after. a 
story,  and  was  waiting  at  a  station  called  Montezuma  for  a  train  when  who 
should  show  up  but  Senator  Kelly.  It  was  at  this  country  station,  which 
consisted  only  of  a  wooden  platform  from  which  we  flagged  a  train,  that  the 
foundation    was    laid    for   the   Trans-Mississippi    Commercial    Congre3S. 

News  had  been  comparatively  scarce  and  I  was  looking  for  a  story  that 
would  bring  in  expenses  and  one  that  would  be  handled  by  the  New  York 
Times,  for  which  I  was  then  a  correspondent.  I  spoke  to  Senator  Kelly  about 
the  possibility  of  organizing  a  congress  of  representatives  of  Western  and 
Middle  States,  where  questions  of  mutual  interest  could  he  discussed  and 
legislation  framed  in  a  tentative  way.  The  Senator  took  favorably  to  the 
idea  and,  until  the  train  came,  we  discussed  the  proposition  pro  and  con.  As 
a  result  of  this  interview  and  as  a  starter-  for  actually  getting  the  Congress 
under  way,  I  published  an  interview  in  the  Kansas  City  Journal,  sending  the 
story  also  to  the  New  York  Times.  The  story  was  well  played  up  and  took 
hold   from    the   start. 

Away  down  in  Texas  the  idea  first  cropped  out,  and  Tom  Richardson,  now 
of  Portland,  secretary  of  the  Cotton  Exchange  in  Galveston,  worked  up  a 
local  convention  which  met  in  that  city  in  May,  1N!»0.  The  convention  was 
attended  only  by  a  few  representatives,  however,  and  was  never  heard  of  by 
the  outside  world  until  later  events  proved   its  significance. 

Early  in  the  year. 1891  the  state  legislature  of  Kansas  met  as  usual  In 
Topeka,  and  I  was  still  doing  politics  for  the  Journal  in  Kansas  City.  I 
resurrected  the  idea  of  a  Western  Slates  Commercial  Congress  and  drew  up 
a  resolution  which  was  introduced  by  Senator  Kelly,  calling  such  a  Congress 
to  meet  in  Kansas  City  in  April,  and  appointing  five  representatives  and 
three  senators  from  the  state  legislature.  I  was  careful  to  see  that  the  name 
of  A.  G.  Stacy  was  included  in  the  list  of  representatives,  all  of  whom  were 
given    $T>   a  day   and    expenses. 


TRANS-MISSISSIPPI    COMMERCIAL    CONGRESS  163 

This  gave  me  no  end  of  copy  and  my  best  hopes  began  to  be  realized. 
I  sent  invitations  to  all  the  Western  and  Southern  States  to  send  delegates 
to  take  part  in  the  discussions,  and  eleven  states  answered  on  the  spot,  in 
which  the  legislatures  were  at  that  time  in  session.  Delegates  were  appointed, 
chambers  of  commerce  sending  delegates  of  their  own  on  our  invitation,  and 
when  the  convention  opened  in  April  at  Kansas  City  for  a  three  days'  session, 
there  were  present  350  representatives  of  Western  and  Southern  States.  At 
that  gathering  in  Coates  Opera  House  were  a  number  who  are  with  us  today, 
including  your  Secretary,  who  was  with  the  Colorado  delegation.  After  an 
enthusiastic  meeting,  the  Congress  adjourned,  leaving  the  date  with  the 
Executive  Committee.  Governor  Fishback,  of  Arkansas,  and  others  interested 
held  a  conference  at  Manitou,  Colorado,  and  the  merger  of  the  Kansas  City 
and  Galveston  meetings  with  the  Deep  Harbor  Conference  was  perfected,  and 
a  meeting  of  the  Congress  was  called  for  Denver,  where  the  name  was 
changed  to  the  more  euphonious  Trans-Mississippi  Commercial  Congress. 

At  Denver,  of  that  year,  the  Congress  was  given  its  vital  impetus  when 
delegates  from  all  the  states  of  the  Mississippi  "Valley  and  of  the  West  were 
present  to  discuss  matters  of  prime  importance  to  these  growing  govern- 
ments. Since  that  time  it  has  grown  tremendously,  until  now  the  Trans- 
Mississippi  Commercial  Congress  is  recognized  as  being  the  most  important 
body  of  men  next  to  the  National  Congress  in  existence  today,  as  far  as 
shaping  legislation  for  national  improvement  is  concerned.  Every  great  ques- 
tion of  national  importance,  outside  of  those  of  a  political  nature,  is  studied 
by  the  Trans-Mississippi  Commercial  Congress  and  its  recommendations  go 
far    towards    shaping   legislation   by    the   national   body.      (Applause.) 

By  Past  President  Craig   (resumCing  the  chair): 

The  gentleman'  from  Nevada  desires  to  speak.  Mr.  Chartz,  will  you 
please  step  up  to  the  platform?  Ladies  and  gentlemen,  I  have  the  pleasure 
of  introducing  Mr.  Chartz,  of  Nevada. 

AN    APPEAL   FROM    NEVADA. 
By  Mr.  Alfred  Charts,  of  Carson  City: 

Ladies  and  Gentlemen,  and  Members  and  Delegates  of  the  Trans-Missis- 
sippi Commercial  Congress:  I  am  from  Nevada,  the  poorest  of  our  states. 
Its  star  in  the  galaxy  of  the  states  of  our  common  union  is  the  least 
bright  and  we  need  polishing.  It  is  not  a  bright  star,  it  is  not  as  bright  a 
star  as  it  should  be.  We  need  some  help,  and  we  appeal  to  you  to  extend  to 
us  such  reasonable  help  as  we  should  have.  I  would  just  as  soon  address 
a  half  a  dozen  in  this  audience,  and  probably  sooner,  than  address  several 
hundred  whom  I  could  not  reach  with  my  voice.  It  makes  precious  little 
difference  how  few  are  the  auditors,  for  this  reason,  that  the  press  represented 
here  by  these  newspaper  boys  will  disseminate  and  spread  out  what  we  have 
to  say  to  millions,  to  all  the  millions  that  inhabit  the  Trans-Mississippi  sec- 
tion, lying  to  the  west  of  the  Missouri  and  Mississippi  Rivers.  I  do  not 
know  whether  I  am  being  heard  now;   I  am   affected   with   a  poor  voice. 

Nevada  comprises  a  large  section  of  the  Trans-Mississippi  country  in  area, 
and  it  needs  help.  The  help  we  need  is  fair,  honest  treatment  by  our  trans- 
portation lines  on  the  question  of  rates  of  fares  and  freights.  We  pay  for  a 
carload  from  Chicago  to  Elko,  800  miles,  nearly,  to  the  east  of  San  Francisco, 
$800.  For  the  same  carload,  for  the  same  goods,  the  same  shipment,  San 
Francisco  pays  only  $300;  and  we  have  to  pay  $800.  We  must  not  bait  the 
railroads.  As  already  stated  by  Mr.  Stubbs,  the  railroads  must  not  be  baited. 
We  must  treat  them  fair.  Nevada  cannot  expect  the  best  terminal  rates,  and 
Nevada  does  not  demand  terminal  rates,  or  the  same  rates  that  are  allowed 
to  San  Francisco,  where  there  is  water  competition,  but  we  do  ask  and  plead 
of  this  Congress  that  we  may  have  a  fairer  rate  than  the  proportion  of  $800 
per  carload.  800  miles  east  of  San  Francisco,  to  the  proportion  of  $300  a  car- 
load, 800  miles  west  from  Chicago.  Having  expressed  myself  on  this  question 
of  railroad  fares  and  freights,  desiring  that  we  should  deal  with  these  im- 
portant corporations  fairly  and  equitably,  and  desiring  that  they 
shall  not  be  baited,  desiring  that  they  shall  be  enabled  to  raise 
the  funds  that  are  necessary  to  be  raised  for  their  improvement, 
for  the  extension  of  their  lines,  to  the  end  that  we  may  as  a  common 
country  be  supplied  with  the  necessary  and  speedy  transportation;  to  the 
end  that  the  fruits  of  California,  and  its  products,  shall  be  speedily  trans- 
ported to  market,  desiring  in  every  way  to  assist  these  great  lines  that  tend 
so  much  to  the  improvement  of  our  common  country,  yet  asking  nothing 
but  fairness  to  Nevada,  that  Nevada  may  be  enabled  to  grow,  and  become 
the  state  that  it  is  entitled  to,  and  not  be  discriminated  against,  asking 
nothing  but  what  is  fair  from  this  Congress,  I  demand  that  Nevada  be  treated 
the  same  as  any  other  unit  in   the  section  lying  west  of  the  great  Mississippi 


M,|  RP^PORT    OP"    PROCKKDIXGS 

River.  That  is  all  I  ask  for  Nevada.  Otherwise,  without  any  further  assist- 
ance, we   will  be  able  to  take  care  of  ourselves. 

I  further  suggest  only  one  more  point,  Mr.  President:  In  Nevada,  and 
on  the  watersheds  of  the  Sierras,  sloping  towards  the  east,  and  lying  in  the 
counties  of  Inyo.'  Mono  and  Alpine  in  California,  lie  great  stretches  of  desert, 
some  of  which  have  earned  the  name,  and  deserve  the  name — such  names 
as  Death  Valley  and  Funeral  Range.  Those  names  imparl  a  meaning.  Within 
that  vast  territory  lie  the  richest  mines  in  the  United  states,  particularly 
referring  now  to  the  Death  Valley  section  and  t lie  Funeral  Range  section,  where 
a  few  years  ago  the  prospector  ventured  out  at  the  peril  of  his  life  for  a 
distance  of  about  fifty  miles,  and  no  more,  where  he  packed  his  burro  with  his 
small  supply  of  groceries  and  provisions  thai  were  required  for  his  food,  in 
those  sections  we  now  find  railroads,  and  we  find  mines  producing  something 
like  i  hirt ecu  millions  a  year  which  have  been  developed  solely  by  the  indomitable 
industry  and  indomitable  energy  of  these  prospectors  and  miners,  taking 
their  lives  in  their  hands,  and  most  of  them  have  died  of  thirst.  I  know 
what  it  is.  I  personally  traveled  seven  miles  until  my  tongue  was  swollen, 
until  my  mouth  was  frothing,  until  1  reached  a  horse  water  trough  and  threw 
my  head  in  to  drink  it  up,  when  a  woman  came  out  at  the  station  and  pulled 
me  away.  She  said,  "You  are  not  the  first  man  that  tried  to  drink  up  all 
my  horse  water."  These  are  the  facts  of  the  desert.  I  have  suffered  it  and 
I  know  what  it  is  —  pulled  off  my  shoes  and  trotted  hare-footed  in  the  hot 
sand  —  I  know  what  it  is.  It  is  something  frightful,  to  come  to  the  point  of 
death    on    account    of   thirst    and    heat. 

For  that  particular  section  I  would  ask  of  this  Congress  to  make  some 
suggestion  and  some  demand  from  our  National  Congress  to  lure  wells  and 
to  put  signboards  up  showing  the  prospector  how  far  he  has  to  go  to  where 
he  can  get  water,  to  help  us  to  develop  one  part  of  our  State,  a  great  section 
of  the  same  country  lying  in  California,  but  making  no  discrimination  betwen 
us.  We  must  here  be  patriotic.  That  is  the  keynote  of  the  meeting  here  of 
this  Congress  —  we  must  be  patriotic.  We  must  not  pull  upon  the  table- 
cloth to  reach  the  turkey.  We  must  allow  the  turkey  to  be  divided  as  best  it 
can  be  divided  for  each  and  every  section,  for  the  mutual  benefil  of  each  and 
every   section    of   the    Trans-Mississippi    territory. 

That  is  all  I  demand;  that  is  all  1  ask;  that  is  all  1  plead  for.  T  plead  for 
patriotism  in  its  full  sense  and  meaning,  benefiting  every  section,  hurting 
no  industry,  appealing  to  no  prejudice,  treating  the  railroad  corporations 
and  every  other  corporation  as  nicely  as  we  would  want  to  he  treated  our- 
selves, they  being  part  and  parcel  of  us,  we  having  a  permanent  interest  in 
each  and  every  friend.  Let  us  be  patriotic  in  the  full  sense  and  meaning 
of   the    term. 

I  did  not  come  here  prepared  to  make  any  speech  whatever,  but  through 
about  forty  years'  work  upon  the  Pacific,  beginning  in  Oakland,  California,  as  a 
devil  on  the  Oakland  News,  and  entering  upon  my  duties  without  any  educa- 
tion, not  knowing  a  word  of  English,  I  came  from  Canada,  and  without  any 
education  whatever,  I  have  attempted  to  forge  my  way  through,  backed  bj 
honesty,  and  I  expect  everyone  to  do  the  same  thing,  hacked  hy  bravery. 
Cowardice  is  the  worst  of  all  characteristics.  Let  us  then  be  brave,  be  honest 
— one  to  the  other — and  our  country  is  very  prolific.  The  sun  shines  here  so 
nicely;  our  earth  is  so  rich;  the  soil  thai  produces  our  living  is  so  bountiful;  and 
cowardice  becomes  the  worst  of  all  the  features  of  human  nature  in  this 
portion    of    God's    domain. 

Gentlemen,  I  thank  you  most  kindly  for  this  opportunity  thai  has  been 
afforded  me  to  speak  for  Nevada,  and  to  speak  for  our  entile  section;  and  for 
the  opportunity  of  listening  to  others,  which  1  have  enjoyed  so  much.  (Pro- 
longed applause.) 

By   President   Case: 

The  Committee  on  Resolutions  has  delegated  me  to  say  that  they  will 
not  be  prepared  to  submit  their  report  before  10  o'clock  tomorrow  morning. 

By   Past   President  Craig: 

Mr.  Blochman,  of  Santa  Maria,  desires  to  have  the  floor  for  a  few 
minutes. 

Oil.    INDUSTRY    OF   CALIFORNIA. 
By  Mr.  I,.  10.  Blochman,  of  Santo   Maria: 

I  was  not  prepared  with  the  data  to  talk  on  this  subject,  as  I  was  un- 
expectedly called  upon,  the  oil  Industry  of  California,  but  I  will  give  you  from 
memory   some  of   the   few   salient    points  in  a   five-minute   talk. 

California  is  known  as  the  great  gold  state,  but  for  the  last  two  or  three 
years  it  has  grown  to  be  the  great  petroleum  state,  the  state  that  has  the 
most    oil    of  any   state    in    the    United    States   today.      That    will    be   a    strange    fact 


TRANS-MISSISSIPPI    COMMERCIAL    CONGRESS  165 

to  you,  but  the  oil  production  for  the  last  year  was  something  like  thirty- 
five  or  thirty-eight  million  dollars,  about  three  million  dollars  greater  than  the 
gold  production,  and  this  next  year  it  is  going  to  reach  considerably  over 
forty  million  dollars  value,  and  continue  growing.  We  have  no  coal  in  this 
State  to  amount  to  anything.  We  could  not  carry  on  our  industries,  our 
manufactures,  without  oil.  Los  Angeles,  fifteen  years  ago,  had  about  fifty 
or  sixty  manufacturing  plants.  The  first  of  January,  nine  months  ago,  they 
counted  1700  manufacturing  plants  in  and  around  Los  Angeles  County  — 1700 
against  about  sixty  or  seventy-five,  all  being  made  possible  through  the  oil  in- 
dustry. Coal  was  worth  at  that  time  about  ten  or  twelve  dollars  a  ton,  to 
land,  and  no  facilities  for  getting  sufficient  of  it.  So  that  factor  gave  en- 
couragement  to  the  oil  industry. 

There  are  three  leading  localities  for  oil.  There  are  minor  places,  but  the 
three  leading  ones  are  the  Kern  fields,  Coalinga,  and  Santa  Maria.  The  Santa 
Maria  field  is  the  one  where  I  am  most  interested.  Around  Los  Angeles,  there 
is  a  field,  but  the  three  largest  ones  are  the  ones  I  have  indicated.  The 
production  from  those  different  localities  amounts  this  year  to  about  forty 
million  barrels  of  oil.  Most  of  it  is  fuel  oil.  The  Standard  Oil  Company 
uses  about  four  million  barrels,  approximately,  for  refining  purposes.  The 
Union  Oil  Company,  at  Oleum,  uses  perhaps  half  of  that.  Nearly  seven- 
eighths  of  the  production  is  fuel  oil.  The  two  localities  that  have  the  most 
refinable  oil  are  the  Santa  Maria  district  and  the  Coalinga  district,  and  the 
Santa  Maria  leads  in  refinable  products.  The  oil  industry  is  being  enlarged 
all  the  time,  capital  being  available  where  the  oil  fields  are  anywhere  near 
being  proven  territory.  We  are  not  asking  for  capital;  we  are  simply  telling 
the  world  what  we  have  and  the  future  of  the  development  of  oil.  In  the 
Santa  Maria  oil  field  we  have  the  deep  oil  wells,  sometimes  we  have  to  go 
thirty-five  hundred  feet  for  oil.  The  Santa  Maria  field  was  one  of  the  first 
fields  that  withstood  the  encroachment  of  the  Standard  Oil  Company.  As 
regards  prices:  The  prices  two  and  three  years  ago  were  very  depressing  on 
account  of  their  competition.  I  am  not  arguing  against  the  Standard  Oil 
Company.  But  the  Union  Oil  Company  and  they  had  separate  shipping  points. 
The  Standard  Oil  Company  could  not  control  that  field  because  there  the  oil 
is  piped  thirty-five  miles  to  Port  Harford,  on  the  ocean.  That  port,  through 
the  efforts  of  their  Chamber  of  Commerce,  has  been  made  a  port  of  entry, 
so  that  vessels  can  go  from  that  port  to  China  and  Japan,  or  anywhere  else 
in  the  world,  without  having  to  go  to  San  Francisco  to  get  listed.  The  fact 
that  there  is  an  open  port  and  there  was  no  railroad  interference,  allowed  the 
Union  Oil  Company  to  compete  with  the  Standard  and  in  that  way,  and 
with  the  growing  demand,  the  price  has  been  fairly  remunerative  until  the 
last  year,  since  which  time  the  price  has  been  very  remunerative,  and  today 
the  demand  for  oil  is  so  large  that  it  is  hardly  keeping  up  with  the 
development. 

There  is  quite  a  good  deal  to  know  about  how  oil  is  developed  in  this 
State,  from  the  shallow  well  seven  or  eight  hundred  feet,  of  the  Kern 
field,  to  the  deep  wells  of  the  Santa  Maria  oil  field;  but  ray  time  is  limited  and 
I  could  not  tell  you  all  about  it.  There  is  a  well  in  the  Santa  Maria  field 
which  produces  three  to  four  thousand  barrels  a  day.  Of  course,  that  is  an 
exceptional  well,  the  average  being  only  two  hundred  and  fifty  to  three 
hundred  barrels.  This  locality  has  been  free  from  wildcatting.  There  is 
quite  a  history  to  the  oil  development,  and  anyone  that  is  interested  in  it 
can,  by  inquiry,  find  out  about  it.  The  principal  growing  industry  in  Cali- 
fornia today  is  that  of  oil  and  not  gold.  We  have  gold,  but  oil  is  getting 
ahead  of  it,  and  as  we  need  the  oil  to  develop  the  State,  the  demand  is  very 
encouraging.       I    thank    you.      (Applause.) 

By   President  Craig: 

Ladies  and  Gentlemen  of  the  Congress:  You  have  heard  repeatedly 
about  transportation;  you  have  heard  something  about  the  express  business. 
The  founder  of  the  Pony  Express  across  the  continent,  or  from  St.  Louis  to 
San  Francisco,  left  behind  him  a  son,  and  that  gentleman  will  give  you  some 
of  the  early  history  of  the  express  business  of  the  West  as  started  by  his 
father.     Mr.  Greene  Majors. 

"ORIGIN  OF  THE  PONY  EXPRESS,"  BY  GREENE  MAJORS,  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

By   Mr.  Majors,  of  Oakland: 

Mr.  Chairman  and  Ladies  and  Gentlemen:  Some  fifty  years  ago,  in  the 
later  fifties  of  the  last  century,  Senator  Gwin  represented  California  in  the 
United  States  Senate.  He  importuned  father,  whose  name  was  Alexander 
Majors,  and  an  overland  freighter  of  early  days,  to  do  something  whereby 
he  could  demonstrate  to  the  Congress  of  the  United  States  that  the  Sierra 
Nevada  Mountains  could  be  traversed  in  the  winter  time.     At  that  time  it  was 


166  REPORT    OF    PROCEEDINGS 

thought  that  nothing  could  ever  pass  through  those  great  snows  on  the 
high  ranges  of  the  Sierra  Nevadas.  Father  being  a  freighter  and  a  western 
man,  Air.  Gwin  suggested  that  lie  run  a  line  Of  ponies  from  the  Missouri 
River  to  Sacramento  for  at  least  out-  winter  in  order  to  prove  that  the  Sierra 
Nevadas  could  be  traversed.  Father  told  Mr.  (Jwin  that  such  a  thing  would 
be  a  losing  business  proposition,  that  no  one  could  make  such  an  enterprise  as 
that  pay.  Mr.  Gwin  guarantied  father  thai  he  would  see  that  the  Congress 
of  the  United  States  reimbursed  him  for  any  losses,  if  any,  if  he  would  make 
the  demonstration  sought  for.  Father  went  ahead  with  the  matter  and  put 
$100,000  gold  coin  into  a  line  of  ponies  from  St.  Joe,  Missouri,  to  Sacramento, 
California,  some  Son  ponies:  and  100  riders  were  employed  to  do  that  work. 
On  the  3rd  of  April,  I860,  the  first  pony  started  from  St.  Joe,  .Missouri,  and  at 
1  he  same  time  from  Sacramento,  going  towards  each  other.  Once  every 
twenty-four  hours  a  pony  started  from  each  of  those  places  speeding  on  his 
way  to  his  journey's  end.  The  distance  traversed  was  2,000  miles.  Those 
ponies  made  that  distance  in  ten  days,  200  miles  a  day.  going  day  and  night 
through  storm  and  sunshine,  through  flood  and  dust,  and  over  deserts  and 
through  the  Indians.  Riders  were  shot  from  their  horses  while  speeding 
across  the  plains.  In  one  case  a  horse  came  into  the  station  with  the  rider 
mortally  wounded,  but  he  was  enabled  to  deliver  his  parcel  to  the  next  rider, 
who    met    him    there. 

The  ponies  covered  that  route  for  two  winters;  the  Sierra  Nevadas  were 
crossed  regularly;  the  mails  were  carried  on  time — very  close  schedule  time. 
The  demonstration  that  Mr.  Gwin  wanted  was  made.  The  Congress  of  the 
United  States,  acting  on  the  showing  that  the  Pony  Express  had  made,  gave 
the  subsidies  to  the  Pacific  railroads  that  enabled  those  railroads  to  build 
from  the  Missouri  River  to  California.  I  have  heard  it  stated,  although  I 
do  not  recall  the  fact,  that  the  subsidies  given  by  the  Government  to  those 
railroads  were  of  such  an  amount  that  they  not  only  built  the  railroads — 
the  subsidies — but  allowed  about  $30,000  profit  per  mile  over  and  above  the 
cost  of  the  railroads.  Be  that  as  it  may,  it  was  a  great  national  benefit  to 
have  those  roads  built.  It  has  shown  to  the  world  what  California  is.  At  thai 
time  the  whole  central  country  was  regarded  as  a  desert,  where  now  are  teem- 
ing acres,  and  millions  of  people  are  making  ample  living. 

Briefly  referring  to  the  Pony  Express  itself:  The  postage  rate  for  a 
message  over  the  route  was  $5  for  a  single  ounce.  Those  messages  were 
written  on  tissue  paper,  so  as  to  get  the  most  possible  writing  or  message 
in  for  the  least  postage.  When  the  first  pony  from  the  East  arrived  in  Sacra- 
mento an  immense  concourse  of  people  met  it.  A  hand  of  music  was  out;  the 
people  were  excited:  it  was  a  great  event;  and  it  is  said  thai  the  pony  was 
decorated  with  ribbons  and  flowers  and  that  every  hair  of  its  tail  and  of 
its  mane  was  pulled  out  on  the  spot  to  be  held  as  souvenirs.  (Xiaughter.) 
The  Pony  Express,  gentlemen,  was  a  financial  failure;  it  did  not  pay  its 
expenses,  although  it  earned  five  dollars  an  ounce  for  postage.  At  that  time 
you  understand  the  war  was  on.  Father  was  a  Southern  man.  and  there 
was  great  war  prejudice  in  Congress  at  the  time;  and  while  he  was  guar- 
anteed to  be  made  good  his  loss,  being  a  Southern  man.  he  did  not  gel  a  cenl 
at  that  loss.  That  is  merely  incidental.  1  want  to  show  you  how  these 
things  are  done,  and  what  discouragemenl  faced  people  who  tried  to  do 
those  things  that  the  pioneers  had  to  face  at  those  times.  The  Western  man 
of  that  day  knew  no  such  thing  as  fear.  He  knew  no  such  thins-  as  "cannot." 
The  word  "succeed"  was  written  plainly  always  before  his  eyes.  Whatever 
he  undertook  to  do  he  did.  Nothing  discouraging  would  stop  or  prevent  him. 
Father  at  that  time  was  running  a  great  freighting  business  on  the  plains! 
He  took  the  contract  from  the  Government  to  transporl  Johnson's  army  to 
Utah  at  the  time  of  the  Mormon  uprising.  Many  of  you  gentlemen  are  proba- 
bly familiar  with  that.  Fortunately  no  war  took  place.  As  you  ride  through 
Echo  Canyon   today,  you  will   see  where  there  are  piles  of  rocks  accumulated 

and  assembled  there.  It  was  the  intention  of  the  Mormons  at  that  time  to 
roll  tho.se  rocks  down  on  the  troops  and  in  that  way  destroj  them.  I  thank 
you    for   your   attention.      (Applause.) 

By    President   Craig: 

Eadies  and  gentlemen,  I  will  ask  you  if  you  will  kindly  come  a  little 
closer  up  to  the  platform.  We  are  going  to  have  a  very  distinguished 
speaker  on  the  platform,  and  it  will  comfort  him  and  be  more  convenient 
to  you  it'  you  come  a  little  farther  to  the  front. 

Some  of  you  doubtless  have  taken  the  trouble  to  look  into  our  daily 
newspapers,  and  you  have  discovered  the  bear  gardens  that  have  been  made 
of  our  superior  courts,  and  occasionally  wo  are  regretful  that  there  is  not 


TRANS-MISSISSIPPI    COMMERCIAL    CONGRESS  167 

a  possibility  of  having  some  of  the  men  who  figure  there  removed  from 
where  they  are  entertaining  themselves  and  their  clients  perhaps,  but  not 
the  general  public.  But,  notwithstanding  the  fact  that  some  of  our  superior 
courts  do  not  do  credit  to  the  city  or  to  the  State  or  to  their  neighborhood, 
we  have  had  the  good  fortune  in  California  for  all  the  years  I  can  remember, 
and  they  begin  in  1870,  to  have  in  our  Federal  courts  men  distinguished 
for  learning  and  honor  and  righteousness.  No  mistakes  have  been  made  by 
the  Federal  Government  in  the  selection  of  those  gentlemen  who  preside  in 
the  Federal  courts;  and  as  a  matter  of  course,  order  is  kept  there  in  such 
shape  as  to  remind  us  of  the  old  style  of  English  jurisprudence,  where  the 
men  not  only  respect  the-  court,  but  respect  each  other,  and  nothing  dis- 
reputable is  allowed  to  happen  there.  One  of  these  gentlemen  has  been 
selected  by  Mr.  Carnegie  to  represent  him  on  this  Coast  as  one  of  the 
directors  of  the  Carnegie  Institute.  To  that  Institute  we  are  indebted  for 
the  developments  going  on  in  Santa  Rosa,  under  the  direction  of  Mr.  Bur- 
bank,  a  wizard  in  plant  life,  and  the  funds  for  whose  experiments  have  been 
provided  by  the  Carnegie  Institute.  Mr.  Burbank's  experiments  have  been 
carried  to  such  a  stage  that  now  he  makes  of  a  potato  a  fruit  to  grow  on  a 
tree.  I  am  safe  to  say  that  he  has  developed  ten  thousand  different  varie- 
ties of  plums,  and  what  he  will  do  yet  it  is  hard  to  say.  But  where  I 
came  from,  in  the  Cannibal  Islands,  we  grow  oysters  on  trees,  and  I  have 
got  that  for  him  to  beat. 

I  take  great  pleasure  in  introducing  to  you  Judge  Morrow,  of  the 
United  States  Federal  Courts,  who  will  tell  you  something  of  the  doings  of  the 
Carnegie  Institute. 

"THE  CARNEGIE  INSTITUTE."  BY  HON.WM.W.  MORROW,  OE  CALIFORNIA. 
By  Judge  Morrow,  of  San  Francisco: 

I  hope  that  the  circumstances  of  my  belonging  to  the  Federal  Judiciary- 
has  had  nothing  to  do  with  the  absence  at  this  hour  of  so  many  of  the  mem- 
bers of  this  Congress.  (Laughter.)  I  have  not  been  invited  here  to  say  any- 
thing about  the  position  that  the  judiciary  will  occupy  in  the  upbuilding-  of 
the  Pacific  Coast.  I  take  it,  therefore,  that  the  management  of  this  Con- 
gress expects  that  the  judiciary  shall  be  silent  upon  that  particular  propo- 
sition. But  I  think  I  can  say  voluntarily  that  whatever  progress  is  made  on 
the  Pacific  Coast  in  building  up  a  civilization,  sometime  and  somewhere  the 
judiciary  will  be  associated  with  such  progress.  (Applause.)  It  is  law  and 
order  and  the  administration  of  justice  that  enable  any  people  to  develop  the 
country  in  which  they  may  live,  so  that  in  years  hence  when  the  people  that 
shall  inhabit  this  country  shall  have  occasion  to  recite  the  various  things 
that  have  contributed  to  the  success  of  the  country,  I  am  sure  that  the  judici- 
ary will  be  acknowledged  as  one  of  the  elements  of  progress,  if  you  have 
progress,  as  I  believe  you   will. 

I  have  been  asked  to  say  something  about  the  Carnegie  Institution.  Per- 
haps you  know  the  Carnegie  Institution  of  Washington  received  from  its 
founder  the  sum  of  twelve  million  dollars  as  a  fund,  the  income  of  which 
should  be  devoted  to  original  investigation.  Mr.  Carnegie  being  a  practical  man, 
believes  that  there  is  an  immense  future  for  original  investigation.  He  him- 
self attributes  a  large  portion  of  his  fortune  to  the  fact  that  he  was  enabled 
to  command  the  services  of  men  who  made  original  investigations  in  the 
line  of  metallurgy  and  the  development  of  the  industrial  resources  of  the 
country  where  his  fortune  was  made.  He  told  me  on  one  occasion  that  he 
believed  that  his  success  was  largely  attributable  to  the  fact  that  he  was 
able  to  secure  the  services  of  an  original  investigator  with  respect  to  the 
ores  of  Minnesota,  which  enabled  him  to  acquire  that  property  and  which 
added  so  much  to  his  fortune.  Now  he  proposes  to  return  them.  He  con- 
siders himself  a  trustee,  and  he  proposes  to  return  something  of  what  he  has 
received  to  the  people  of  this  country  in  the  practical  development  of  scientific 
measures.  Therefore,  among  the  various  things  that  he  has  done  has  been  the 
organization  of  the  Carnegie  Institution,  which  was  organized  in  the  year 
1900,   eight  years  ago. 

Mr.  Daniel  C.  Gillman,  former  president  of  the  University  of  this  State,  and 

afterwards  president  of  Johns  Hopkins  University,  was  made  the  president  of 

•,the    Institution,    and    down    to    the    year    1904    he    performed    those    duties.      He 

then   recommended   to   the   trustees   that   they   should   secure   the    services   of  a 


Ids  REPORT    OF    PROCEEDINGS 

younger  man  to  take  his  place,  and  he  described  the  qualities  of  such  a  person 
who  could  make  of  the  Carnegie  Institution  what  it  was  intended  to  be.  The 
trustees  secured  the  services  of  Doctor  Robert  S.  Woodward,  of  Columbia 
University,  one  of  the  leading  scientists  of  this  country  and  probably  of  the 
world,  and  he  became  the  president  of  the  Carnegie  Institution.  I'nder  his 
guidance  and  under  his  direction  it  has  been  organized  into  various  depart- 
ments, and  your  interest  will  be  in  knowing  what  those  various  departments 
are.  I  shall  not  describe  them  in  detail:  I  will  only  refer  to  one  or  two,  from 
which  you  can  determine  the  value  of  the  others.  First,  is  the  department  of 
botanical  research,  with  headquarters  at  Tucson.  Arizona;  second,  the  depart- 
ment of  marine  biology,  with  headquarters  at  Dry  Tortugas,  Florida;  third. 
the  department  of  evolution,  at  Cold  Springs  Harbor,  New  York;  fourth,  the 
department  of  historical  research,  with  headquarters  at  Washington,  D.  C; 
tifth.  the  department  of  geophysical  research,  with  headquarters  at  Washing- 
ton, D.  C;  sixth,  tiie  department  of  terrestrial  magnetism,  with  headquarters 
at  Washington.  D.  C. ;  seventh,  the  department  of  economics  and  sociology. 
with  headquarters  at  Worcester.  Massachusetts;  eighth,  the  department  of  re- 
search in  nutrition,  located  at  Boston,  Massachusetts.  I  stop  simply  to  say 
thai  I  am  not  aware  why  the  department  of  research  in  nutrition  should  have 
been  located  at  Boston,  unless  it  was  for  the  purpose  of  acquiring  some  infor- 
mation upon  the  nutrition  of  the  people  of  that  metropolis  that  develops  their 
intellectual  superiority.  (Laughter.)  Ninth,  the  department  of  solar  research, 
whose  observatory  and  laboratory  are  located  at  Pasadena,  California;  and  the 
department  of  meridian  astronomy,  established  temporarily  at  San  Luis  in  the 
Argentine. 

Those  are  the  ten  departments  that  have  been  organized  by  the  Carnegie 
Institution,  and  which  are  under  the  supervision  and  for  which  the  income  on 
twelve  millions  of  dollars  is  used  annually  in  their  support.  As  I  said,  I 
cannot  refer  to  all  of  these,  but  only  to  one  or  two  that  you  may  judge  tin- 
value  of  this  work  as  a  whole  from  those  I  shall  refer  to.  The  department 
of  terrestrial  magnetism:  Of  course  you  all  know  that  the  location  of  the 
various  continents  and  islands  of  the  world  is  determined  by  what  is  called 
geodetic  survey,  and  that  the  harbors  and  coast  lines  of  all  of  the  land 
have  been  very  carefully  and  very  accurately  determined.  The  determina- 
tion of  the  position  of  a  ship  at  sea  is  a  matter  of  great  consequence  in 
navigation.  In  order  to  determine  that,  it  is  necessary  that  one  shall  know 
the  variation  of  the  magnetic  needle  of  the  compass.  Without  that  knowledge 
no  navigator  could  know  precisely  where  he  was.  The  fact  that  he  may  know 
that  there  is  an  island  or  a  harbor  located  in  any  particular  place  by  latitude 
and  longitude  is  not  entirely  satisfactory  unless  he  may  know  the  variation  of 
the  magnetic  needle  in  order  that  he  may  tell  the  direction  he  has  been  run- 
ning and  where  he  is  located  on  the  ocean.  The  shores  of  the  Pacific  Ocean 
are  occupied  by  many  nations,  and  it  has  been  impossible  to  secure  the  co- 
operation of  the  various  countries  in  order  to  procure  the  means  to  make 
the  survey  of  the  Pacific  Ocean.  When  the  Carnegie  Institution  was  organ- 
ized this  subject  came  before  them.  We  found  that  one  of  the  serious  difficul- 
ties in  the  navigation  of  the  Pacfic  Ocean  was  the  lack  of  an  accurate  mag- 
netic survey,  and  that  the  Government  of  the  United  States  did  not  feel  called 
upon  to  make  that  survey;  and  neither  did  Great  Britain  nor  Germany,  nor  any 
of  the  other  nations  that  have  islands  and  own  possessions  upon  the  Pacific 
Ocean.  In  this  situation  the  Carnegie  Institution  came  forward  and  took 
up  the  proposition  of  that  survey,  commencing  about  four  years  ago.  The 
survey  has  been  continually  progressing  during  the  last  four  years;  and  we 
have  ascertained  that  the  deviation  of  the  magnetic  needle  has  been  very 
greatly  a1  variance  with  what  it  was  supposed  to  be,  as  determined  hv  various 
maps  of  the  world.  This  survey  has  been  carried  forward  until  over  50,000 
miles  of  the  Pacific  Ocean  have  been  covered,  and  we  have  within  the  last  year 
or  two  published  the  results  of  this  magnetic  survey  so  far  as  we  have  pro- 
gressed. The  American  fleet  that  is  now  crossing  the  Pacific  Ocean  is  at  pies 
ent  sailing  under  our  magnetic  charts,  furnished  by  the  Carnegie  Institution. 
(Applause.)  For  that  work  we  have  been  appropriating  $50,000  a  year.  In 
order  to  continue  this  work  we  have  found  that  it  was  necessaryto  build 
a  vessel  for  that  vocation  alone.  And  at  this  moment  we  are  engaged  in 
building  a  vessel  that  shall  be  designed  and  prepared  and  fitted  up  expressly 
for  the  continuation  of  this  magnetic  survey.  In  the  last  report  the  director 
points  out  tin-  fact  that  there  are  many  variations  in  the  neighborhood  of  our 
islands  here,  which  sometimes  amount  to  more  than  from  one  to  five  degrees. 
Vim  can  very  well  understand  what  position  a  navigator  is  in  with  his  ship, 
these  ureal  ships  are  being  built,  with  charts  based  upon  a  magnetic 
survey  thai  varies  from  one  to  five  degrees.  That  is  the  condition  that 
exists.  Th.  prosperity  of  the  world  is  largely  dependent  upon  its  commerce: 
the  building  of  vessels  and  the  sending  across  these  seas  the  commerce  of 
one   country   and   exchanging  it    with    the   commerce   of  the   other;    and   one   of 


TRANS-MISSISSIPPI    COMMERCIAL    CONGRESS  169 

the  important  matters  is  that  these  large  vessels  shall  be  able  to  traverse  these 
oceans  with  a  certainty  that  the  navigator  knows  where  he  is  and  where  he  is 
going  to,  amid  wind  and  storm  and  tide.  That  is  what  the  Carnegie  Insti- 
tion  is  doing  in  that  direction;  and  within  four  or  five  years  we  will  be  able  to 
furnish  to  the  vessels  of  the  world  an  extremely  accurate  survey,  more 
accurate  than  has  ever  been  made  in  the  history  of  the  world.  (Applause.) 
That  must  be  and  ought  to  be  of  interest  to  you  gentlemen  who  are  inter- 
ested   in    this    Trans-Mississippi    country. 

The  next  matter  to  which  I  might  properly  refer  is  the  department  of 
solar  research,  the  observatory  of  which  is  located  at  Pasadena,  California. 
We  are  building  a  solar  observatory  at  Pasadena  that  will  cost  perhaps  a 
half  million.  The  purpose  of  this  is  to  study  the  sun  only.  This  is  not  an 
astronomical  observatory  to  consider  the  stars  and  determine  the  parallax  and 
work  out  the  various  phases  of  the  solar  depths;  but,  as  I  said  before,  Mr. 
Carnegie,  being  a  practical  man,  conceived  this  notion:  That  as  we  are 
dependent  upon  the  sun,  it  is  important  for  us  to  know  the  physical  properties 
of  the  sun  and  its  influence  upon  the  tide,  the  wind  and  so  forth,  and  that 
the  most  scientific  men  in  the  world  should  be  gathered  together  at  the  most 
advantageous  place  in  the  world,  and  that  they  should,  for  fourteen  years, 
give  their  absolutely  exclusive  time  and  attention  to  the  studying  of  the 
sun.  That  observatory  is  nearly  completed,  and  we  have  sent  out  over  the 
world  and  are  now  getting  together  a  staff  of  men  who  will  devote  their  entire 
time  to  the  study  of  the  sun — as  I  said,  its  physical  properties  and  its  influence 
upon  this  planet.  That  will  be  of  considerable  importance;  it  will  be  of  prac- 
tical advantage,  I  have  no  doubt,  in  many  ways,  and  in  so  many  ways  that  I 
shall  not  attempt  to  enumerate  them. 

The  next  department  that  I  think  may  be  of  interest  is  the  department 
of  botanical  research,  which  was  one  of  the  earliest  departments  organized. 
The  purpose  of  that  department  is  to  study,  as  you  can  well  understand  from 
its  name,  plant  life  and  its  development — research  in  that  direction.  In  that 
department  is  Mr.  Burbank  of  Santa  Rosa,  who  is  contributing  to  the  interest 
and  to  the  edification  of  the  scientific  world  his  investigations  that  he  has 
been  making  for  the  last  thirty  or  forty  years.  In  a  very  short  time  the  Car- 
negie Institution  will  be  able  to  give  to  the  world  the  benefit  of  his  research 
in  the  line  of  plant  life.  But  that  is  not  all;  we  are  not  stopping  at  that.  We 
have  an  extensive  laboratory  at  Tucson,  Arizona.  The  purpose  of  that  is  to 
study  plant  life  under  the  conditions  prevailing  west  of  the  Missouri  River. 
You  gentlemen,  coming  from  the  states  west  of  Missouri,  will  of  course  under- 
stand that  our  climatic  conditions  are  different  from  what  they  are  else- 
where in  the  United  States;  and  you  can  understand  very  well  that  it  is  im- 
portant that  we  should  know  all  about  the  plant  life  under  the  arid  conditions 
that  prevail  in  many  parts  of  the'  Pacific  Coast.  The  Department  of  Agriculture 
has  taken  up  many  of  the  problems  and  the  questions  that  relate  to  plant  life 
on  this  coast,  and  they  are  doing  a  great  work,  but  the  Carnegie  Institution  has 
selected  from  that  field  certain  lines  of  investigation  which  the  Department  of 
Agriculture  does  not  undertake;  and  we  are  pursuing  that  investigation.  The 
purpose  of  that  investigation  is  that  the  world  may  know  all  that  there  is  in 
the  advantages  of  the  soil  of  the  Pacific  Coast. 

I  was  surprised  that  my  friend,  Mr.  Chartz,  coming  from  Nevada,  should 
speak  so  about  his  state,  Nevada,  that  it  was  not  such  a  bright  star,  and  that 
it  had  many  things  that  he  preferred  should  be  different.  Now,  Nevada  is 
considerable  of  a  star;  and  it  will  be  much  more  of  a  star  when  it  has  all  of 
its  arid  waste  developed  by  irrigation  and  reclamation.  A  gentleman  has 
said  that  this  Congress  was  really  the  progenitor  of  the  reclamation  system. 
That  reclamation  system  that  we  have  throughout  the  West  is  going  to  make 
of  Nevada,  Arizona,  New  Mexico  and  all  of  these  Western  States  a  most  fruit- 
ful country.  They  will  be  rich  not  only  in  mines  and  in  oil,  but  rich  in  their 
agricultural  exploits.  The  Carnegie  Institution  is  going  to  contribute  in 
certain  lines  not  taken  up  by  others.  I  ought  to  have  said  in  this  connec- 
tion that  the  Carnegie  Institution  has  one  rule  for  its  investigation,  namely, 
it  occupies  no  ground  already  occupied  by  any  other  effort.  If  the  Govern- 
ment occupies  a  certain  ground,  we  do  not  touch  it;  if  any  institution,  univer- 
sity or  college  or  fund  contributed  by  any  individual,  takes  up  any  line  of 
investigation,  we  do  not  take  that  up.  We  take  up  only  something  different. 
The  result  is  that  the  Carnegie  Institution  is  engaged  in  exclusive,  original 
research  for  the  benefit  of  mankind.  (Applause.)  It  so  happens  that  most  of 
this  work  is  being  done  for  the  benefit  of  the  Pacific  Coast,  or  at  least  the 
benefit  of  the  states  that  are  west  of  the  Missouri  River;  because  with  respect 
to  the  conditions  that  prevail  in  the  Eastern  States  and  in  Europe,  most  of 
those  things  are  already  known;  but  the  new.  the  untried,  and  the  interesting 
features  of  the  United  States  are  in  these  Western  States,  and  in  that  line 
it    is. 

Another    rule    of   the   Carnegie   Institution    is,    never   to    say    what    you   are 


170  REPORT    OF    PROCEEDINGS 

going  to  do.  The  president  and  none  of  tin-  trustees  are  expected  to  say  any- 
thing about  the  future,  only  to  speak  of  the  past;  and  bo  far  as  I  have  made 
any  sort  of  suggestion  as  to  the  future,  I  have  trespassed  upon  this  rule. 
The  rule  is,  only  when  the  Carnegie  Institution  has  done  anything,  that 
amounts  to  a  complete  realization,  that  then  and  not  until  then  shall  anything 
be  said  about  it.  Therefore.  I  shall  not  say  anything  as  to  what  will  he  done 
in  the  future.  At  any  rate,  this  institution  lias  undertaken  to  cover  other 
grounds  which  I  need  not  mention;  I  may  say  this,  though,  T  think,  with  becom- 
ing propriety,  that  the  institution  is  in  the  hands  of  men  who  realize  the 
necessity  and  the  value  of  original  research.  The  chairman  of  the  executive 
committee  is  Mr.  Elihu  Root;  a  member  of  the  committee  is  Mr.  \v.  II.  Taft; 
a  member  of  the  executive  committee  is  also  Seth  Low  of  New  York.  Governor 
Montague,  of  Virginia,  is  a  member;  Mr,  Andrew  D.  White,  formerly  Minister 
to  Germany,  and  formerly  president  of  the  Cornell  University,  is  one  of  the 
active  trustees.  There  are  eighteen  gentlemen  whose  names  1  might  mention, 
like  Mr.  Carroll  D.  Wright,  former  commissioner  of  Labor,  and  who  is  now 
president  of  Clark  University  in  Massachusetts.  All  these  gentlemen  are 
thoroughly  interested  in  the  new  developments,  in  the  new  scientific  investi- 
gation that  is  going  on  in  the  world  and  particularly  in  the  United  States. 
I  thank  you  for  your  attention.     (Prolonged  applause.) 

By    President  Craig: 

I  would  undertake  the  responsibility  but  I  understand  it  is  irregular,  and 
I  will  ask  if  somebody  representing  one  of  the  arid  states  or  the  Western 
States  would  move  a  resolution  of  thanks  to  the  Carnegie  Institute,  and  to 
its  representative  on  this  Coast  for  the  developments  made  to  plant  life.  I 
think  it  will  be  highly  appreciated. 

By  Mrs.  Scipio  Craig,  of  California: 

I  have  the  honor  to  make  this  motion: 

RESOLVED,  That  the  Trans-Mississippi  Commercial  Congress,  in  its 
nineteenth  annual  session  assembled  in  San  Francisco,  express  its  thanks  to 
the  Carnegie  Institute  for  sending  our  distinguished  AW  \v.  Morrow  to  speak 
to  us  on  the  subject  of  that  institution:  and  also  thai  this  Congress  express 
its  enthusiastic  appreciation  of  the  grand  work  accomplished  and  now  being 
so  successfuly  carried  on  by   the  Carnegie  Institute. 

By  Mr.  Craigie  Sharp,  of  California: 
I  second  the  motion. 

By   President  Craig: 

You  have  heard  the  resolution.  I  am  safe  to  say  that  it  could  be 
seconded  by  every  member  of  the  Trans-Mississippi  Commercial  Congress,  if 
present,  every  one  of  them,  that  the  thanks  of  this  Congress  and  its  hearty 
appreciation  for  the  Carnegie  Institute  and  its  development  of  the  West  shall 
be  sent  to  that  institution.  I  will  ask  for  a  rising  vote.  The  motion  is 
carried  unanimously  by  a  standing  vote. 

The  suggestion  has  been  made  that  Coos  Bay  desires  the  opportunity 
of  saying  a  few  words  in  reference  to  the  coal  deposits  of  that  country,  and 
that  Mr.  Peter  Loggie  give  us  a  little  talk  on  the  subject.  Ladies  and  gentle- 
men, this  is  Mr.  Peter  Loggie,  of  North  Rend,  Oregon.  After  Mr.  Loggie 
has  completed  his  remarks  we  will  take  a  recess  until  2  o'clock. 

POSSIBILITIES   OK  coos   It  \  ^  . 
By   Mr.   Loggie,  of   Norih    Bend,  Oregon! 

I  can  assure  you  that  this  has  been  sprung  on  me  and  finds  me  very 
much  unprepared.  But  while  here  I  can  tell  you  thai  Coos  Bay  in  the  future 
will  cut  a  figure  on   this   Western   slope. 

So  far  as  the  coal  of  Coos  Bay  is  concerned,  1  can  tell  you  this:  Thai 
there  are  four  hundred  square  miles,  according  to  the  survey  made  by  the 
Government  engineers,  underlaid  with  coal.  That  coal  is  a  lignite  carrying 
about  50  per  cent  carl. on.  People  acquainted  with  coal  will  know  what  that 
means.  That  coal  has  been  part  of  the  fuel  of  San  Francisco  for  the  last 
forty    \e;irs.       It    Is   considered    in    value,    1    believe,    to    be    perhaps   a    little    ahead 

of  any  other  coal  at  its  price  thai  is  used  In  this  vicinity.  As  far  as  the, 
(tovernment  is  concerned,  we  have  had  in  the  lasl  year  I  do  7iot  know 
whether  experimentally  or  not-  three  torpedo  boats  and  one  torpedo  boat 
destroyer   to   coal    there,   and   a    greal    many    people   have   made   investigations 


TRANS-MISSISSIPPI    COMMERCIAL    CONGRESS  171 

in  various  ways  with  regard  to  this  coal.  "We  have  not  yet  a  formal  answer 
from  these  officials  as  to  just  exactly  what  their  investigations  mean;  but 
the  very  fact  of  their  going  there  and  the  Government  sending  its  boats, 
means  a  great  deal  to  Coos  Bay,  and  I  think  to  the  Pacific  Coast  as  well.  I 
believe  Coos  Bay  is  the  only  Government  coaling  station  owned  by  the 
United  States  on  this  Coast — that  is,  it  is  the  only  place  where  vessels  can 
enter  and  take  a  cargo  of  native  coal. 

I  might  tell  you  a  great  deal  more  of  Coos  Bay;  I  might  tell  you  that 
tributary  to  Coos  Bay  there  are,  according  to  the  best  estimates,  twenty-six 
billion  feet  of  timber;  and  I  might  also  tell  you  that  the  farmers  of  the  Coos 
Bay  country  are  getting  rich.  When  I  went  there  fourteen  or  fifteen  years 
ago  it  took  two  farmers  to  own  a  skiff  between  them;  today  a  farmer  who 
does  not  own  a  steam  launch  has  something  serious  the  matter  with  him. 
There  are  today  about  240  gasoline  launches  on  the  bay  owned  by  farmers 
and  others.  I  did  not  come  here  prepared  to  speak  about  Coos  Bay.  There 
are  many  other  things  I  might  tell  you.  The  Government  report  made  last 
year  carries   with   it  two   recommendations: 

Recommendation  No.  1  is  for  a  dredge  costing  $160,000,  to  be  operated  and 
maintained  at  a  cost  of  half  a  million  dollars,  including  the  cost  of  the  dredge; 
the  second  recommendation  is  that  there  be  two  dredges  built,  carrying  with 
them   a  cost   of    $2,000,000. 

The  fact  of  these  recommendations  being  made  by  the  Government,  and 
of  the  Government  boats  having  coaled  there,  is  one  of  the  reasons  I  put 
a  resolution  before  this  Congress  asking  that  the  bay  be  fortified,  and  that  it 
be  made  a  coaling  station.  Every  captain  coming  there,  at  once  says,  "This 
is  a  place  that  should  be  fortified."  At  the  entrance  to  Coos  Bay  is  an 
immense  rock  which  runs  for  several  miles  and  it  is  quite  high,  a  solid  rock 
where  a  large  disappearing  gun  could  be  placed  at  a  distance  from  the  face 
of  the  rock,  so  that  no  one  would  know  it  was  there,  and  it  could  command 
the  ocean  shore  for  fifteen  miles,  so  that  no  enemy  could  come  there.  That 
is  one  of  the  features  of  Coos  Bay,  and  the  reason  it  should  be  fortified.  It 
can  be  fortified  with  very  little  expense.  Another  reason  is  the  position  it 
occupies  geographically.  The  great  Columbia  River  at  one  side  of  the  boundary 
of  Oregon,  with  California  on  the  other  leaves  a  coast  line  of  600  miles 
unprotected.  Coos  Bay  happens  to  be  about  the  middle  of  that,  opening  a 
country  not  tributary  to  California  or  to  Oregon,  one  of  the  most  fertile 
parts  of  Oregon  or  of  this  continent.  I  do  not  want  to  take  up  your  time; 
I  believe  it  is  nearly  noon,  and  I  think  that  most  of  you  would  rather  have 
your  dinner  than  to  listen  to  me.     (Applause.) 

By   Secretary   Francis: 

Before  the  recess,  let  me  suggest  that  this  afternoon  at  3  o'clock,  Dr. 
David  Starr  Jordan,  the  president  of  Leland  Stanford  University,  will  speak 
on  "The  Preservation  of  the  Fishes  of  the  Pacific  Coast." 

By   Past   President  Craig: 

The  Secretary  has  anticipated  the  Chair.  Mr.  Case,  your  president  asked 
me  to  make  that  notification,  and  asked  you  to  be  here  promptly,  because 
Mr.  Jordan  will  give  us  something  not  only  intellectual,  but  entertaining. 
If  there  is  one  thing  to  be  fostered  in  California  it  is  the  fish  industry. 
Just  think  God  Almighty  provides  the  fish  and  all  we  have  to  do  is  to 
bring  them  to  shore!  Here  we  have  to  pay  ten  or  twelve  cents  a  pound  for 
the  fish.  In  Nevada  or  Idaho  one  has  to  buy  land  and  they  have  to  buy 
the  cattle  and  fence  them  in  and  sometimes  they  put  them  on  lands  that 
do  not  belong  to  them;  the  cattle  raiser  has  to  keep  them  three  years  before 
he  sells  them  and  then  all  he  gets  is  five  cents  a  pound.  All  we  have  to  do 
is  to  put  hatcheries  in  our  rivers  and  let  a  year  pass  after  they  are  hatched 
and  they  go  to  sea  and  in  two  years  come  back  and  all  we  have  to  do  is  to 
take  them  out  of  the  water.  Dr.  Jordan  is  the  master  of  ichthyology,  not 
only  on  this  Coast  and  on  this  continent,  but  the  world  over. 

By   Vice-President   Pryor: 

I  want  to  explain  and  apologize  for  the  lack  of  attendance  this  morning. 
Most  of  the  members  of  this  Congress  have  been  on  the  automobile  tour. 
We  did  not  get  in  until  very  late  and  most  of  us  have  not  arrived  yet.  They 
have  all  promised  to  be  here  at  the  afternoon  session,  and  we  all  hope 
to  have  a  large  attendance  this  afternoon. 

(An  adjournment  was  here  taken.) 


TENTH   SESSION 


The  Congress  was  called  to  order  at  2:30  o'clock  p.  m.,  Vice-President 
Col.  W.  H.  Baker,  of  Des  Moines,  Iowa,  in  the  chair. 

By   Vice-President   Baker: 

The  first  thing  on  the  program  this  afternoon,  gentlemen,  is  an  address 
by  Captain  J.  W.  Howell,  of  Seattle,  who  will  address  you  upon  the  topic, 
"The  Alaska-Yukon-Pacific  Exposition  of  1909."  I  present  to  you  Captain 
Howell.     (Applause.) 

THE     AL,ASKA-YUKON-I»ACIFIC     EXPOSITION     OF     1009. 
By    <  :i|'i:iin    Howell,   of    Seattle: 

Ladies  and  Gentlemen:  I  would  be  more  pleased  if  there  were  a  larger 
attendance  this  afternoon,  and  there  ought  to  be.  But  what  we  lack  in  num- 
bers at   this  time  is   made   up   in   quality,   so   I  shall   be  satisfied. 

I  notice  present  quite  a  number  of  ladies.  There  lias  never  been  much 
said  to  the  ladies  during  my  attendance,  and  I  do  not  know  but  I  shall  say 
something  to  them.  It  is  not  often  that  I  am  called  upon  to  address  so  many 
of  the  fair  sex  at  one  time — one  at  a  time  is  an  elegant  sufficiency  for  me. 
(Laughter.) 

I  do  not  propose  to  waste  any  time  in  preliminaries,  Mr.  Chairman,  but 
I  want  to  give  to  this  Congress  and  to  this  audience  a  message,  Mr.  Chair- 
man, an  important  message  to  which  I  would  like  to  have  them  all  listen 
carefully. 

Some  little  time  ago  I  mentioned  to  our  efficient  secretary,  Geo.  E.  Boos,  of 
the  Seattle  Commercial  Club,  that  it  would  be  a  great  pleasure  for  me  to 
attend  your  Congress  session  here  in  this  rehabilitated  Greater  San  Francisco 
on  this  date. 

He  remarked,  "Would  you  like  to  represent  this  club  as  a  delegate?" 
I  said.  "Yes.  certainly:"  and  here  I  am,  not  only  a  delegate  but  also  down  on 
program  for  discussion  on  the  Alaska-Yukon-Pacific  Exposition.  We 
feel  proud  of  the  city  of  Seattle:  we  feel  proud  of  the  city  of  Spokane:  we  feel 
proud  of  Taeoma.  and  of  our  sister  city,  Portland,  and  we  feel  prouder  still 
of  this  great  rehabilitated  Greater  San  Francisco.  (Applause.)  I  have  been 
more  or  less  in  touch  with  the  world  and  its  people,  and  in  assisting  in  the 
building    of    the    West,    and    particularly    Seattle    and    Washington    state. 

As  you  know  this  State  is  preparing  for  a  great  exposition  in  said  city 
of  Seattle  next  year,  at  which  will  be  displayed  all  those  things  of  which 
we  boast.  There  will  be  people  from  all  quarters  of  the  globe  that  will  rind 
the  convincing  proof  of  the  development  and  the  possibilities  of  this  por- 
tion of  our  continent,   including  the  wonderful   Alaska. 

The  good  people  of  Seattle  will  leave  nothing  undone  to  impress  you 
with  their  cordial  hospitality,  this  spirit  which  is  representative  of  the 
people  of  the  entire  State,  and  ladies  and  gentlemen,  those  that  will  attend 
can  go  home,  no  matter  if  they  go  to  the  end  of  the  earth,  can  say  con- 
scientiously that  when  the  gates  of  the  A-Y-P-E  are  thrown  open  on  June 
the  first,  1909,  they  can  walk  into  an  exposition  grounds  where  no  one 
is  employed   except  in  the   upkeep   until   it  is  finished. 

Somebody  has  said  there  is  no  North,  no  South;  but  a  great  Northwest. 
We  feel  proud  of  the  city  of  Seattle,  with  its  prosperity,  progress,  and  popu- 
lated with  250,000  people.  I  find  that  every  time  I  go  away  from  Seattle  and 
return   again  I  always  find  a  new  city. 

It  is  impossible  for  me  to  memorize  the  data  of  expositions,  if  so  I 
would  have  to  commit  to  memory  every  line  of  Holy  Writ  from  Genesis  to 
Malachi,  and  from  Matthew  to  Revelation,  hence  f  will  have  to  ask  your 
Indulgence  while  I  endeavor  to  imparl  to  you  all  the  facts  and  points  of 
this  great  project.  I  think  it  was  Homer  that  said.  "No  audience  can  be  well 
entertained  by  long  speeches  or  long  articles,"  however,  I  will  have  to  ask 
of  you  to  give  me  time  so  that  I  can  impart  to  this  vast  assemblage,  members 
of  the  Congress,  delegates,  and  others,  the  important  points  connected  with 
our  exposition,  therefore  you  will  kindly  bear  with  me  while  I  do  more 
reading  than   talking. 

The  Alaska- Yukon-Pacific  Exposition,  which  will  be  held  during  the 
summer  of  1909,  at  the  city  of  Seattle,  U.  S.  A.,  on  Pugei  Sound,  one  of  the 
great  commercial  ports  of  the  world,  will  be  an  important  international  expo- 
sition,    costing     $la.  (too.  noil. 

The  primary  purpose  of  the  exposition  is  to  exploit  the  resources  and 
potentialities  of  Alaska  and  Yukon  territories  in  the  United  States  and  the 
Dominion  of  Canada,  and  to  make  known  and  to  foster  the  vast  importance 
of    the    trade    of    the    Pacific    Ocean    and    of    the    countries    bordering    thereon. 


TRANS-MISSISSIPPI    COMMERCIAL    CONGRESS  173 

It  will  also  demonstrate  the  marvelous  progress  of  Western  America,  where, 
within  a  radius  of  1,000  miles  of  Seattle  live  7,500,000  persons  who  are  directly 
interested  in  making  the  Exposition  the  true  exponent  of  their  material 
wealth  and  development. 

THE  GROUNDS.  Work  on  the  grounds  and  buildings  is  further  advanced 
at  this  stage  than  at  any  former  exposition,  and  everything  will  be  in  readi- 
ness on  opening  day.  A  portion  of  the  campus  of  Washington  University, 
the  Exposition  grounds  are  250  acres  in  extent,  twenty  minutes'  ride  from 
the  business  section  of  the  city,  and  have  been  pronounced  by  competent 
authority  as,  scenically,  the  finest  ever  used  for  such  purpose.  Situated 
between  two  beautiful  fresh  water  lakes,  Lake  Washington  bordering  on  the 
east,  and  Lake  Union  on  the  west,  the  grounds  present  unsurpassed  stretches 
of  water  front  and  tall,  statelv  giants  of  the  forest:  entrancing  vistas,  gentle 
slopes  and  commanding  terraces  add  to  the  beauty  of  the  picture.  The 
principal  thoroughfare,  Rainier  Avenue,  is  on  a  direct  line  with  that  white- 
cloaked  sentinel.  Mount  Rainier,  14,526  feet  in  height — we  always  talk  in 
feet;  one  of  the  gentlemen  of  Colorado  talked  in  miles,  but  this  is  feet — 
whose  perpetual  snow-capped  peak  may  be  plainly  seen  from  the  grounds; 
on  the  west  the  snow-covered  Olympics,  and  on  the  east  Mount  Baker 
towering  over  the  white-capped  Cascade  Range,  are  in  plain  view.  Esplanades 
and  ornate  boat  landings  adorn  the  lake  shores,  which  permit  many  aquatic 
features  to  be  presented. 

THE  PALACES.  Fifteen  large  buildings  of  surpassing  beauty  and  grace 
are  grouped  in  a  unique  manner  around  a  highly  embellished  court.  These 
are  as  follows:  Agriculture,  Manufactures,  Fisheries,  Mines,  Machinery, 
Fine  Arts,  Transportation.  Foreign,  Auditorium,  Forestry,  United  States 
Government,  Alaska,  Hawaii,  Philippines,  and  Government  Fisheries.  Around 
these  cluster  the  Administration  group,  State,  Concessions,  Foreign  and 
smaller   pseudo   exhibit   buildings. 

UNITED  STATES  GOVERNMENT.  Uncle  Sam  will  expend  $600,000  for 
his  part  of  the  Exposition.  Five  handsome  buildings  will  hold  a  multitudinous 
array  of  displays  of  the  general  Government,  Alaska  and  Hawaii,  Philippines 
and  Fisheries  of  the  Pacific  Coast.  Authority  has  pronounced  the  United  States 
Government  buildings  the  best  ever  erected  for  exhibit  purposes  by  Uncle 
Sam  at  any  world's  fair. 

THE  STATES.  There  will  be  about  fifteen  handsome  state  buildings  at 
the  Exposition.  Oregon,  which  appropriated  $100,000,  has  a  stately  structure. 
California's  grant  of  $100,000  will  be  expended  in  erecting  a  large  building  in 
the  old  Spanish  mission  style.  Washington  state  will  have  a  majestic  building 
costing  more  than  other  state  buildings  on  the  grounds.  The  Exposition 
State  appropriated  $1,000,000  for  its  participation.  New  York,  Utah,  Nebraska, 
Missouri  and  Pennsylvania  will  erect  beautiful  edifices,  and  about  eight 
other  commonwealths  are  planning   to   take   part. 

FOREIGN  PARTICIPATION.  Foreign  nations  will  be  represented  on  a 
large  scale.  There  will  be  many  foreign  pavilions  and  displays,  showing  the 
material  progress  of  the  countries  which,  on  account  of  the  international 
aim   of   the   Exposition,   are   vitally   interested,   emphasize   the   foreign   exhibits. 

THE  EXHIBITS.  Life,  color,  motion  and  variety  are  the  chief  charac- 
teristics of  all  exhibits.  The  demonstration  of  interesting  processes  of  pro- 
duction and  manufacture  is  the  rule  in  all  departments.  The  transformation 
of  raw  material,  stage  by  stage,  into  the  marketable,  finished  product  will 
be   exemplified. 

PAY  STREAK.  The  amusement  section  of  the  Exposition,  known  at 
Chicago  as  the  Midway,  at  St.  Louis  as  the  Pike,  at  Portland  as  the  Trail,  at 
Jamestown  as  the  Warpath,  will  be  known  at  Seattle  as  the  Pay  Streak, 
a  term  well  known  to  miners  in  all  countries  and  especially  to  those  who 
have  worked  along  the  Pacific  Coast  and  in   Alaska. 

The  Pay  Streak  will  be  a  mile  in  length  and  will  have  thirty  meritorious 
attractions,  new  in  every  respect  and  costing  hundreds  of  thousands  of  dollars. 

CLIMATE.  Exposition  visitors  will  experience  no  unpleasant  weather. 
Seattle  does  not  suffer  any  great  extremes  of  either  heat  or  cold.  In  the 
summer  the  temperature  rarely  reaches  ninety  degrees,  and  in  winter  never 
goes  as  low  as  zero.  The  annual  mean  temperature  is  51.4  degrees,  and  the 
annual    rainfall    averages    37.65    inches. 

LOW  RATES.  The  transcontinental  railroads  will  have  low  rates  in 
effect  from  Eastern  points  to  the  Pacific  Coast.  All  rates  from  Western  points 
will  be  equally  favorable,  with  stopover  privileges.  It  will  be  just  as  cheap 
to  travel  to  the  Pacific  Coast  in  1909  as  to  stay  at  home.  Many  thousands 
of  persons  who  know  the  West  only  by  name  will  have  an  unparalleled  chance 
to  visit  the  Pacific  Coast,  Alaska,  British  Columbia  and  Yukon  in  1909  and 
view  the  innumerable  scenic  attractions  which  are  not  surpassed  in  grandeur 
anywhere  else  in  the  world.  Besides  the  wonders  of  the  Exposition,  there 
are  many  interesting  side  trips  that  may  be  taken  to  points  near  Seattle 
at    the   expenditure    of   little    time    and    money. 


174  REPORT    OF    PROCEEDINGS 

ACCOMMODATluNs.  Seattle,  essentially  a  city  of  hotels,  will  be  able  to 
take  care  of  comfortably,  at  reasonable  rates,  the  largest  crowd  of  visitors 
that  will   be  at   the  Exposition   at   one   time. 

THE     AI.ASKA-Yl  'KON-PACIFIC     EXPOSITION,     1!>0S>. 

Sou    may    talk    about    Chicago,    St.    Louis,    Buffalo. 
But  the  A-Y-P  that  is  to  be  will  be  the  place  to  go: 
For    hospitality    the    West    has    always    been    in    line, 
So  let  Seattle  be  your  goal   in   nineteen   hundred  nine. 

A   stands   Cor  Alaska    that   Russia   to   us   sold, 

And   what  was  thought  a  barren  waste  turned  out  a  land  of  gold, 
"With   tin  and  copper,   coal  and  oil,  and   finest  grazing  lands, 
Alaska  is  a  country  that  our  respect  commands. 

Y    is    the   mighty   Yukon,    that    flows    through    that    great    land. 
Where  gold  is  found  in  plenty  upon  her  bars  of  sand; 
Where   ships   with   treasure  laden   each   season   you   can   see. 
Two  thousand  miles  'tis  from  the  head  down  to   the  Behring  Sea. 

P   for  the   grand    Pacific   and   its   coast   of   spruce   and   pine, 
The  mighty  highway  to  the  "East"   by   far  the  shortest   line; 
The   people   on   its  borders   have   much   of  wit   to   boast. 
That's    why    this    Fair   will    be   out   there   on    the   Pacific   Cjast. 

No  need   to  go   to   Europe   for  pleasure   or  for  rest, 

The   Coast   has   scenery  just  as   grand,   the  climate   is   the  best; 

No  need  to  go  to  England,  to  France,  or  on   the  Rhine, 

Just   come   out   to   Seattle    in    nineteen    hundred    nine. 

"Go  West,"   said   Horace   Greeley,   and   many   came   out   West, 
'Tis   true   that  many   Pioneers  have   long  been   laid  to  rest, 
But   those   that  followed   after  have  worked   along   their   line, 
How  well   they've  done  will  all   be   seen   in  nineteen   hundred  nine. 
(Applause.) 

I  am  authorized  to  say  that  if  any  or  all  of  you  visit  Seattle  during  this 
exposition  that  they  will  give  you  a  hearty  greeting  and  a  hearty  welcome. 
The  Chamber  of  Commerce,  the  club  to  which  I  belong,  the  Commercial  Club 
which  has  one  thousand  members,  the  fraternal  societies,  the  people  —  and 
even  the  police  officers  —  everything  and  everybody  will  give  you  a  hearty 
welcome.  But  I  want  to  say  right  here  that  if  you  do  come  to  Seattle,  the 
people  are  hospitable,  and  their  charges,  you  may  depend  upon  it.  will  be 
very   reasonable   and    thoroughly   satisfactory. 

Mr.  Chairman,  and  Eadies  and  Gentlemen,  for  the  courtesy  shown  by  this 
body,  and  for  the  courtesy  shown  by  the  members  of  the  press,  the  Associated 
and  other  press  associations.  I  will  simply  close  by  using  three  Anglo-Saxon 
words,  "I  thank  you."      (Applause.) 

By  Chairman   Baker: 

The  next  speaker  upon  the  program  is  the  Honorable  Alfred  C.  Rulofson. 
representing  the  commercial  bodies  of  this  city.  I  now  have  the  pleasure 
of  introducing  to  you  Mr.  Rulofson.     (Applause.) 

"MARK   ISLAND   NAVY    YARD,"   BY   MR.   ALFRED   C.   RULOFSON 

OF  CALDTORNIA. 

By    Mr.    Hiilof.son.    San     Francisco! 

Mr.  Chairman,  and  Ladies  and  Gentlemen:  I  had  entrusted  to  me  today, 
at  noon,  a  matter  of  vital  importance  to  bring  before  this  convention.  1  think 
that  it  would  have  been  better  to  have  taken  it  up  yesterday  —  I  think  possi- 
bly we  are  a  little  late,  or  a  little  out  of  order  in  the  matter,  but  it  Is  one  of 
such  vital  importance  to  every  man,  woman  and  child  of  the  whole  United 
States,  that  I  trust  you  will  bear  with  me  patiently  and  consider  well  what 
I  say  upon  the  subject,  It  would  have  been  desirable  to  have  somebody  with 
more  eloquenl  powers  present  it  to  you.  but  my  heart  is  in  the  right  place 
in  this  matter,  and  I  trust  you  will  make  allowances  for  any  jerkiness  in 
the   presentation    of    the    matter. 

You  all  know  that  quite  recently  we  had  sixteen  <>!'  the  finest  battleships 
and  cruisers  that  ever  sailed  upon  the  broad  In. sum  of  the  ocean,  steam  In 
through  our  Pacific  gate.     You  all  know,  or  generally  you  know,  why  they  did 


A.     ('.     RILOFSOX,     San     Francisco. 


V 


THE 


UNIVERSE* 


of 


■o*& 


TRANS-MISSISSIPPI    COMMERCIAL    CONGRESS  175 

so.  You  probably  know  that  there  was  a  great  effort  made  to  retain  those 
ships  on  this  Coast,  either  for  good  or  for  insufficient  reasons.  At  a  banquet 
that  we  gave  to  the  Honorable  Secretary  of  the  Navy,  in  Oakland,  during  the 
visit  of  the  fleet,  he  was  urged  to  keep  that  fleet  on  the  Pacific  Coast,  and  his 
reason  given  at  that  time  why  he  did  not  do  it,  was  because  we  had  no 
adequate  facilities  for  taking  care  of  such  a  fleet.  I  ask  you,  ladies  and 
gentlemen,  what  good  is  a  fleet  if  you  cannot  take  care  of  it  ?  We  have 
neither  yards  nor  docks  of  sufficient  capacity  to  take  care  of  those  ships  in 
times  of  peace.  How  great  a  disadvantage  we  would  be  at  in  times  of  war. 
Suppose  that  fleet  sailed  forth,  as  they  no  doubt  would,  to  defend  this  harbor, 
and  every  other  harbor  upon  the  Pacific  Coast,  and  in  the  natural  course  of 
events,  some  of  those  ships,  through  the  attacks  of  their  opponents,  should 
meet  with  even  a  slight  disaster.  Where  would  they  be  repaired  ?  What 
would  become  of  them  ?  Some  people  claim  that  they  could  not  go  to  Mare 
Island,  and  I  think  there  is  some  foundation  for  the  claim,  because  of  the  lack 
of  depth  of  water.  Those  ships,  disabled  as  they  would  be,  would  then  have 
to  sail  twelve  hundred  miles  to  Bremerton,  and,  while  Bremerton  could  take 
care  of  them  if  they  were  there,  it  is  indeed  problematical  if  they  would  ever 
get  there,  with  a  hostile  fleet  harassing  them.  The  probability  is  that 
such  ships  would  either  be  sunk  or  captured. 

There  are  people  in  the  Orient  that  have  the  same  idea  that  we  have 
about  collecting  curiosities  and  antiques  and  souvenirs  from  foreign  countries. 
Our  whole  United  States  is  filled  with  specimens  of  their  handicraft.  I  heard 
an  Oriental  say  the  other  day,  when  he  read  about  you  good  people  from 
Colorado  presenting  a  silver  service  to  the  cruiser  that  is  named  after  your 
magnificent  State,  that  it  would  look  fine  on  the  Emperor's  table.  What 
Emperor  did  he  mean  ?     We  have  no  emperors  in  the  United  States. 

This  general  matter  is  considered  of  such  great  Importance  that  com- 
mittees have  been  appointed  from  the  eleven  commercial  organizations  of 
San  Francisco  to  draft  a  letter  to  send  to  the  Honorable  Secretary  of  the 
Navy  on  this  subject  of  the  Pacific  Coast  navy  yards.  This  letter  was 
prompted  from  the  fact  that  some  months  ago  President  Roosevelt,  hearing 
so  much  question  about  the  depth  of  water  and  the  inability  of  battleships 
to  reach  the  Mare  Island  Navy  Yard,  appointed  a  commission,  or  a  board  of 
engineers,  to  examine  into  and  report  on  the  depth  of  water  and  the  condi- 
tion of  the  channel  and  approaches  to  Mare  Island.  That  board  was  not  in- 
structed to  go  beyond  that,  and,  as  they  were  a  military  or  a  naval  board, 
they  hewed  straight  to  the  line,  and  considered  no  other  subject  except  the 
channel  and  its  approaches  to  Mare  Island.  We  feel  that  something  broader 
should  be  done;  another  board  should  be  immediately  appointed  to  report 
on  the  ability  of  the  Mare  Island  Navy  Yard  to  take  care  of  the  ships  after 
the  channel  is  provided,  that  the  dockage  facilities  should  be  increased, 
that  there  should  be  berths  prepared  for  those  ships  to  lie  in.  that  there 
should  be  great  industrial  shops  to  do  everything  that  is  necessary  to  a 
battleship,   even   from   laying   the  keel   to   making  a   gun. 

This  is  what  we  feel,  and,  carrying  out  that  feature,  this  letter  was 
written,   to  the  Honorable  Secretary  of  the  Navy,  Victor  H.  Metcalf. 

By   Vice-President   Baker: 

Let  me  interrupt  long  enough  to  call  upon  Colonel  H.  D.  Loveland, 
former  President  of  this  organization,  to  preside. 

Colonel  H.  D.  Loveland,  Past  President,  San  Francisco,  in  the  chair. 

Mr.    I(  ill  nl  son.   proceeding    (reads): 

San   Francisco,   September   25,    1908. 
Honorable  Victor  H.  Metcalf,   Secretary   of  the  Navy,   Washington,   D.   C. 

Sir:  The  Board  appointed  by  order  of  the  President  on  the  recommenda- 
tion of  your  department  as  contained  in  your  letter  of  February  26,  1908,  was 
instructed  "to  thoroughly  investigate  the  question  of  the  hydraulics  of  Mare 
Island  straits  and  approaches,  having  in  view  the  construction  of  the 
works  for  the  permanent  improvement  of  the  approaches  and  straits  so 
that  ships  of  the  deepest  draft  can  go  up  to  the  Mare  Island  Navy  Yard,"  and, 
acting  under  these  instructions,  it  has  recommended  a  plan  for  deepening 
and  maintaining  the  channel  in  Mare  Island  straits  and  on  the  bar  at 
their  mouth  which  contemplates  the  extension  of  the  present  system  of  dykes 
with  addition  thereto  and  the  dredging  of  the  channel  to   the   required  depth. 

At   a   public    banquet   given   in    your   honor   by    the   city    of   Oakland    on    the 


176  REPORT    OF    PROCEEDINGS 

evening  of  May  9  last,  in  referring-  to  the  sentiment  which  generally  pre- 
vailed here  at  the  time-  that  a  portion  of  the  Reel  then  in  fhese  waters  should 
be  retained  here  for  the  defense  of  the  Pacific  Coast,  you  made  the  statement 
that  this  idea  could  not  be  carried  out  because  the  necessary  facilities  for  the 
eare  of  a  battleship   tleet  were  lacking. 

There  is  no  doubt  of  the  correctness  of  the  opinion  which  you  expressed 
on  that  occasion,  in  the  minds  of  those  who  have  given  the  matter  any  thought 
for  an  investigation  of  the  conditions  will  show  that  there  were  but  two  dry- 
docks  on  this  Coast  of  sufficient  size  to  accommodate  a  modern  battleship,  one 
of  which  is  located  at  the  United  States  Naval  Station  at  Bremerton,  Wash- 
ington, and  the  other  at  Hunter's  Point  in  San  Francisco  Pay.  Against  this 
the  Atlantic  Coast,  with  but  about  one-third  greater  extent  of  coast  line,  has 
sixteen    docks   available. 

To  the  residents  of  this  Coast  it  appears  to  be  of  the  utmost  importance 
that  steps  be  immediately  taken  to  provide  the  requisite  facilities  for  caring 
for  a  strong  defensive  fleet  in*  these  waters,  for  while  they  are  not  alarmists. 
they  realize  that  without  such  facilities  a  fleet  would  soon  be  rendered  use- 
less in  the  event  of  attacks  by  a  hostile  nation.  It  also  realizes  that  it  will 
require  several  years  to  provide  these  facilities,  and  it  is  advisable  on  that 
account   that   the    inauguration    of   the   work   be   not   delayed. 

This  cannot  be  accomplished  by  the  mere  provision  and  maintenance 
of  a  channel  having  sufficient  depth  to  permit  the  passage  of  battleships  of 
present  day  draft  between  San  Francisco  Bay  and  the  Mare  Island  Navy  Yard, 
for,  with  that  object  attained,  the  facilities  for  docking  and  repairing  an 
adequate   battleship   fleet   would    still    be    lacking. 

It  is  imperative  that  additional  berthing  facilities  be  provided,  for  at 
present  there  is  barely  sufficient  space  to  properly  berth  two  ships  and  quite 
recently  when  fire  control  was  installed  on  the  vessels  comprising  the  Pacific 
fleet,  it  was  necessary  to  berth  four  of  the  armored  cruisers  two  abreast  and 
these,  with  eight  torpedo  boats  and  one  auxiliary  vessel,  taxed  the  facilities 
.if   the  yard   to   the  utmost   limit. 

It  is  quite  as  important  that  adequate  berthing  facilities  be  provided  as 
that  the  channel  of  sufficient  depth  be'  obtained,  for  it  would  be  useless  to 
send  ships  to  the  yard  if  they  could  not  be  properly  taken  care  of  on  their 
arrival. 

The  conditions  prevailing  at  the  yard  are  far  from  being  what  they 
should  be  or  could  be  in  any  modern,  privately  owned  plant  of  one-tenth  its 
size  and  importance.  The  arrangement  of  the  various  shops  might  be  greatly 
improved  at  no  large  expense,  while  the  facilities  for  handling  the  work  and 
for   transporting   it   are   susceptible   of   almost    unlimited    improvement. 

Some  provision  should  also  be  made  for  delivering  the  mat.  rial  at  the 
yard  by  rail,  which  under  existing  conditions  must  be  delivered  by  barge  or 
lighter,    causing   additional    expense    for    transportation    charges   and    handling. 

There  can  be  no  reasonable  doubt  of  the  necessity  of  at  least  two  first 
class  navy  yards  on  t he  Pacific  Coast — the  one  located  at  Bremerton  and  the 
other  at  Mare  Island.  It  would  be  impossible  to  do  without  either  in  the 
event  of  an  attack  upon  any  of  our  "'cast  cities,  for  it  would  be  as  im- 
practicable to  repair  a  fleet  acting  in  defense  of  San  ,  rancisco,  at  the  Bremer- 
ton Navy  Yard,  as  it  would  be  to  repair  one  acting  in  defense  of  New  Fork, 
at   Portsmouth. 

Believing  that  the  Board  which  lias  lately  investigated  and  reported  on 
the  question  of  the  approaches  of  the  Mare  Island  Navy  Yard  may  have  been 
influenced  in  its  recommendation  by  the  limitations  placed  upon  it  by  the 
instructions  contained  in  its  orders,  the  undersigned  hereby  respectfully 
petition  that  in  your  forthcoming  message  to  the  President  you  recommend 
that  another  commission  be  immediately  appointed  which  shall  be  instructed 
to  investigate  and  report  not  only  in  respect  to  the  approaches  to  the  Mare 
Island* Navy  Yard,  but  also  as  to  the  conditions  at  present  prevailing;  and 
to  recommend  a  plan  whereunder  a  channel  of  sufficient  depth  to  permit  the 
passage  of  ships  of  the  deepest  draft  to  the  yard  can  be  maintained  and 
adequate  facilities  provided  to  care  for  a  battleship  fleet  of  such  size  as  might 
be   required   to   keep    in    these    waters    in    an    emergency. 

It  is  respectfully  suggested   that    the   hoard   be  C prised  of  four  members, 

two  of  which  shall  be  ex-members  of  the  late  hoard  of  investigation,  one  a 
naval    constructor    who    is    thoroughly    familiar    with    navy    yard    requirements, 


TRANS-MISSISSIPPI    COMMERCIAL    CONGRESS  177 

and  the  fourth  a  civilian  of  broad  experience  in    the  equipment  and   operation 
of  large  privately  owned   modern  plants. 
Respectfully  submitted, 

THE    CALIFORNIA    PROMOTION    COMMITTEE, 

Rufus  P.  Jennings,  Chairman. 
CALIFORNIA    STATE    BOARD    OF    TRADE, 

Arthur  R.   Briggs,  President. 
CHAMBER   OF    COMMERCE    OF    SAN   FRANCISCO, 

James    McNab,     Vice-President. 
THE     MERCHANTS    EXCHANGE, 

James    Rolph     Jr.,    President. 
MERCHANTS  ASSOCIATION  OF  SAN  FRANCISCO. 

Andrew    M.    Davis,    President. 
PACIFIC    COAST    JOBBERS    &    MANUFACTURERS 
ASSOCIATION     OF     CALIFORNIA. 

A.   C.   Rulofson.   President. 
CALIFORNIA     METAL     DEALERS     ASSOCIATION. 

A.   L.   Scott. 
BOARD  OF  TRADE  OF  SAN  FRANCISCO, 

A.  A.  Watkins,   President. 
SHIPOWNERS     ASSOCIATION     OF     THE     PACIFIC 
COAST. 

W.    H.    Marston.    President. 
OAKLAND    CHAMBER    OF    COMMERCE, 

Edwin   Stearns,   Secretary. 
MERCHANTS   EXCHANGE   OF  OAKLAND, 

H.  H.   Gard,   President. 
ALAMEDA   CHAMBER   OF   COMMERCE. 

Frederick    W.    D'Evelvn,    Vice-President. 
BERKELEY    CHAMBER   OF    COMMERCE, 

G.    B.   Ocheltree,    President. 
MANUFACTURERS    AND    PRODUCERS    ASSOCIA- 
TION  OF   CALIFORNIA. 

J.    Parker    Currier,    Vice-President. 
To   the  Secretary   of  the  Navy,   Washington. 

In  furtherance  of  the  object  of  that  letter,  a  letter  was  sent  to  the 
commercial  organizations  of  the  Pacific  States,  outside  of  California,  and 
another  in  almost  identical  language  to  the  commercial  organizations  within 
the  state  of  California,  the  first-mentioned  letter  being  as  follows,  and  having 
enclosed  with  it  a  copy  of  the  letter  to  the  Secretary: 

San    Francisco,   October    1,    1908. 

Gentlemen:  The  importance  to  the  entire  Pacific  Coast  of  having  adequate 
navy  yards  on  this  Coast  to  care  for  the  ships  of  the  United  States  Navy  that 
should  be  in  Pacific   waters  is  evident  to  all. 

The  reason  that  there  is  not  a  larger  fleet  in  the  Pacific  at  the  present 
time   is   mainly   because   the   facilities   for   repairing   the   ships   are   inadequate. 

The  Secretary  of  the  Navy  made  this  statement  at  a  public  function 
during  his  visit  to  the  Coast  in  May   last. 

The  Pacific  Coast  needs  at  least  two  up-to-date  navy  yards  —  one  at 
Bremerton  and  one  at  Mare  Island — and  the  co-operation  of  all  the  commercial 
organizations  is  desired  to  influence  the  National  Congress  to  a  realization 
of    this    fact. 

A  recent  commission  appointed  by  the  President  examined  the  approaches 
of  Mare  Island  Navy  Yard,  California,  and  made  a  report  thereon,  but  it  is 
desired  to  have  a  still  more  definite  report  on  this  yard.  To  this  end,  a 
letter  has  been  sent  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy,  copy  of  which  is  enclosed. 

It  is  urgently  requested  that  your  organization  co-operate  in  this  matter 
(as  we  are  ever  ready  to  co-operate  with  you  in  matters  of  mutual  interest), 
by  addressing  a  letter  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy  at  Washington,  endorsing 
the  letter  sent  to  him,  and  urging  that  the  recommendation  therein  con- 
tained  be   carried    out. 

It  is  also  requested  that  you  ask  the  press  of  your  locality  to  take  up 
the   matter  and   give   it   encouragement. 

This  anticipated  action  on  your  part  is  in  the  interests  of  all  the  Pacific 
States,  and  I  am  sure  we  may  count  upon   your  co-operation. 

Awaiting  your  replv,   I  am,  Very  sincerely  yours, 

J.  O.  HARRON, 
Chairman  Committee  on  Navy  Yard. 

We  are  also  advised  that  other  Chambers  of  Commerce  all  over  the 
Pacific  Coast  are  endorsing  this  letter,  and  are  sending  letters  to  the  Secretary 
of  the  Navy.  Copies  have  been  presented  to  the  entire  Pacific  Coast  delegation, 
and  we  have  here  some  letters  from  some  of  the  gentlemen  in  which  they  have 
promised   us   their   greatest    support. 


178  REPORT    OF    PROCEEDINGS 

You  gentlemen  from  Oregon,  Washington  and  California,  Nevada  and 
Utah,  and  the  gentlemen  from  every  other  state  represented  in  the  Trans- 
Mississippi  Commercial  Congress,  are  just  as  much  interested  as  we  are  in 
maintaining  not  only  the  navy  yards,  but  a  navy  on  the  Pacific  Coast,  with 
facilities  sufficient  to  take  care  of  that  fleet.  What  is  the  use  of  having  the 
guns,  what  is  the  use  of  having  the  men  behind  the  guns,  unless  you  have 
a  place  to  house  them?  What  is  the  use  of  having  the  horse  and  buggy,  if  you 
haven't  a  stable  to  put  them  in?  We  must  have  adequate  facilities  on  this 
Coast  to  take  care  of  a  fleet,  before  we  will  have  the  fleet,  and  if  we  do  not 
do  it  very  quickly,  we  may  find  someone  coming  over  here  and  moving 
us,  bag  and  baggage,  to  the  other  side  of  the  Pacific  Ocean,  and  then  we 
won't  need   anything — our  troubles  will   all   be  at  an   end. 

Tomorrow  a  resolution  will  be  introduced  endorsing  the  sentiments  ex- 
pressed in  this  letter,  and  it  is  hoped  that  it  will  meet  with  the  unanimous 
approval   of  this  convention. 

I   thank  you  for  your  attention.      (Applause.) 

By  President  Loveland: 

Protection  to  the  Pacific  Coast,  or  to  any  other  coast  of  this  country, 
is  protection  to  all  parts  of  the  country.  I  sincerely  trust  that  Mr.  Rulofson's 
sentiments  will  find  a  hearty  response  in  the  hearts  of  those  who  are  attend- 
ing this  Trans-Mississippi  Commercial  Congress. 

Ladies  and  Gentlemen:  One  year  ago,  at  the  session  of  this  Congress 
in  Oklahoma,  I  inaugurated  a  practice  which  I  believe  could  well  be  fol- 
lowed up  in  this  and  the  future  sessions  of  the  Trans-Mississippi  Commer- 
cial Congress,  or  of  that  other  great  congress  which  is  working  along  upon 
allied  lines,  namely,  the  National  Irrigation  Congress.  And  that  was,  that 
where  we  were  to  hear  from  a  speaker,  and  desiring  that  the  audience 
should  know  something  of  him,  I  requested  someone  who  knew  him  possibly 
better  than  the  presiding  officer,  to  introduce  him.  I  am  therefore  going  to 
follow  that  practice  at  this  time,  and  am  going  first  to  present  to  you  a 
gentleman  who  needs  no  introduction  to  a  California  audience,  and  I  doubt 
if  he  needs  an  introduction  to  anyone  here,  a  gentleman  who  has  twice  been 
President  of  the  National  Irrigation  Congress,  and  who  for  many  years  has 
been  a  great  worker  in  this  Congress.  I  have  met  and  worked  with  him 
at  least  at  five  or  six  different  sessions  of  this  Congress.  He  is  a  man  whom 
Californians  have  honored  in  the  past,  and,  if  I  am  any  prophet,  one  whom 
they  will  honor  in  the  future. 

I  take  pleasure  in  introducing  to  you  Honorable  George  C.  Pardee, 
former  Governor  of  California.     (Applause.) 

REMARKS     BY    FORMER     GOVERNOR     PARDEE. 

By   ex-Goveruur  Pardee,  of  California: 

Mr.  Chairman  and  Ladies  and  Gentlemen:  California  has  many  things 
of  which  she  is  proud,  and  many  things  of  which  she  with  right  boasts. 
But  of  none  of  the  things  of  which  she  is  proud,  or  of  which  she  boasts, 
is  she  prouder  or  does  she  boast  louder,  than  of  her  two  great  universities, 
one  supported  by  the  State,  the  other  inaugurated  and  supported  by  the 
beneficence  and  the  philanthropy  of  one  of  her  foremost  citizens,  now  de- 
ceased; one,  the  University  of  California,  the  other  the  Iceland  Stanford  Jr. 
University.  Our  two  million  people  (we  have  just  a  little  less  than  two 
million  people  in  this  State)  send  five  thousand  of  their  young  men  and 
young  women  to  those  universities,  which  are  not  rivals  in  any  sense  of 
the  word,  but  coadjutors  and  friends  in  the  education  of  the  young  people 
of  this  State,  and  I  may  say.  also  of  this  Nation.  Those  two  universities 
are  the  direct  result  of  the  foresight  of  the  pioneers  of  the  state  of  California, 
those  young,  hardy,  energetic  men,  who  came  to  this  State  in  1849,  the  pick 
and  pride  of  t lie  Nation  and  of  the  world,  who  came  here,  not  with  the  idea 
of  staying,  but  merely  with  the  idea  of  gaining  a  fortune  and  returning  to 
their  own  Eastern  homes,  but  yet  who,  when  stained  with  the  mud  of  the 
mines,  and  in  their  overalls  and  woolen  shirts,  went  down  to  Monterey  to 
draft  a  constitution  for  the  State  which  they  themselves  had  no  idea  of 
Inhabiting,  they  placed  in  that  constitution  provisions  for  a  free  public 
school  system.  They,  without  families  and  without  children,  looked  into 
the   future    of    the    state    of    California,    provided    a    free    public    school    system, 


aarv 


OF 


' 


±)> 


I>R.    DAVID    STARK   JORDAN,    Palo    Alto,    California. 
Pre.siilent     Leland     Stanford    Jr.     University. 


TRANS-MISSISSIPPI    COMMERCIAL    CONGRESS  179 

crowned  by  a  great  university.  Their  forethought  has  been  more  than 
realized.  We  have  two  universities.  You  heard  the  other  day  from  the 
president  of  the  State  University.  Today  you  are  to  listen  to  President 
Jordan,  of  the  Leland  Stanford  Jr.  University  (applause),  one  of  the  great  men 
of  this  State,  one  of  the  great  men  of  this  country,  a  man  who  is  doing  more, 
possibly,  for  the  state  of  California,  in  conjunction  with  the  sister  institution, 
more  for  the  state  of  California,  more  for  the  United  States  of  America, 
by  implanting  into  the  minds  and  the  very  fiber  of  the  young  people  with 
whom  he  comes  in  contact  that  great,  loyal,  patriotic  American  citizenship, 
which  will  tell  and  be  the  salvation,  perhaps,  of  this  country  in  its  hour  of 
need. 

President  Jordan  is,  as  I  have  said,  one  of  our  great  men.  He  is  great 
in  science;  he  is  great  in  politics,  that  kind  of  politics  which  is  patriotic, 
that  kind  of  politics  which  speaks  for  the  betterment  of  the  country,  and 
the  people  of  the  state  of  California  are  proud  to  have  him  here  and  are 
proud   to   introduce   him   today,    through   me,    to   you.      (Applause.) 

"THE     PRESERVATION     OF     OIK     FISHES,"     BY     DAVID     STARR     JORDAN, 

PRESIDENT  OF  LELAND   STANFORD  JR.  UNIVERSITV. 
By  Dr.  Jordan,  of  Palo  Alto: 

Ladies  and  Gentlemen:  I  am  going  to  talk  to  you  this  afternoon  about 
the  preservation  of  our  fishes.  I  think  this  is  perhaps  the  worst  hall  to 
speak  in  that  I  have  ever  known,  and  so  I  shall  not  in  any  way  endeavor  to 
give  you  any  samples  of  oratory,  but  I  shall  talk  to  you  just  as  plainly  as  I 
can   on   the   particular   subject   at    issue. 

The  present  Administration  is  perhaps  going  to  be  best  known  by  its 
relation  towards  the  conservation  of  our  property.  It  had  hardly  occurred  to 
anybody  until  within  the  last  ten  years  that  our  property,  the  property  that 
we  all  own  in  common,  our  forests  and  our  gold  mines  and  other  mining 
properties,  our  fisheries,  our  wild  animals,  are  so  important  that  we  must 
save  them  before  they  are  all  destroyed. 

The  best  fresh  water  fisheries  in  the  world  are  the  fisheries  of  Lake  Erie. 
There  is  no  other  body  of  water  anywhere,  that  is,  of  fresh  water,  that  is  so 
well  fitted  for  the  life  of  fishes,  because  it  is  a  large  lake,  it  is  everywhere  shal- 
low, it  has  everywhere  the  kind  of  bottom  that  abounds  in  fish  food.  And 
so  it  is  possible  to  make  of  that  lake  an  enormous  storehouse,  or  treasury,  of 
fish  foods;  it  is  possible  to  furnish  a  large  part  of  the  food  of  an  immense  num- 
ber of  people  from  the  fishes  of  that  lake. 

Lake  Erie,  under  our  present  conditions,  is  governed  by  five  different  sets 
of  statutes,  besides  the  national  statutes  of  Canada  or  the  federal  dominion 
statutes  of  Canada,  and  the  national  statutes  of  the  United  States.  The  fishes, 
starting  in  at  Detroit,  find  themselves  hemmed  in  between  the  law  of  Ontario 
and  the  law  of  Michigan.  Going  down  the  lake,  they  find  themselves  con- 
fronted with  the  law  of  Ohio,  different  from  the  law  of  Michigan.  Passing  on 
down  they  find  the  law  of  Pennsylvania,  different  from  that  of  Ohio,  dif- 
ferent from  that  of  Michigan,  different  from  that  of  Ontario.  And  if  the 
fish  goes  on  a  little  farther,  it  finds  the  laws  of  the  state  of  New  York,  and 
the  laws  of  New  York  are  different  in  every  separate  county  of  that  State. 
The  result  is  that  the  fishes  are  not  protected  as  they  ought  to  be  pro- 
tected, and  not  being  so  protected,  there  are  not  as  many  of  them  as  there 
ought  to  be;  and,  there  not  being  as  many  of  them  as  there  ought  to  be,  there 
are  not  nearly  as  many  of  them  caught  as  there  should  be.  You  have,  then, 
a  paradox  of  there  being  too  many  of  them  caught  so  that  there  cannot  be 
enough  of  them  caught.  And  the  fisheries  of  Lake  Erie  are  not  one-half 
of  what  they  would  be  if  they  were  put  into  your  hands,  into  the  hands  of 
any  one  of  you  alone,  without  all  of  these  other  people  and  other  laws  and 
statutes  entering  into  the  consideration  of  the  subject.  This  fact  has  led  our 
Administration,  which  looks  after  such  things,  to  consider  what  can  be  done, 
so  on  the  11th  day  of  April,  1908.  a  treaty  was  executed  between  Great  Brit- 
ain and  the  United  States  for  the  purpose  of  improving  the  fishery  conditions 
along  the  boundary  waters,  for  the  purpose  of  propagating  more  fishes,  of 
protecting  those  where  they  need  protection,  of  increasing-  the  fishery  output, 
and  of  making  the  lot  of  the  fishermen  on  one  side  of  those  waters  similar 
to  what  it  is  on  the  other,  that  is,  giving  fair  play  among   the   fishermen. 

For  instance,  the  town  of  Erie,  in  Pennsylvania,  is  allowed  to  send  out  a 
hundred  large  steam  vessels  with  all  the  nets  they  can  carry  and  all  the  men 
they  can  carry  to  follow  the  fish  anywhere  they  can  on  the  American  side  of 
the  lake.  On  the  Canadian  side.  Port  Stanley,  which  is  the  best  fishing  point, 
has  about  ten  fishing  vessels,  not  any  more  are  allowed,  and  they  are  only 
allowed  to  fish  within  the  boundaries  of  their  country.  When  the  fish  get  be- 
yond that  distance,  somebody  else  has  to  take  them.  But  the  Canadians,  so 
few  in  number,  look  across  the  boundary,  see  the  enormous  number  of  Amer- 


180  REPORT    OF    PROCEEDINGS 

ican  vessels  following  the  fish  wherever  they  choose  to  go,  and  the  fishes  do 
not  know  whether  they  are  American  or  Canadian  fishes,  and  so  the  fishes 
that  the  Canadians  would  like  to  follow  go  into  American  waters  and  get 
caught,  and  the  fishes  that  the  Americans  want  to  catch  they  catch. 

On  the  other  hand,  the  Americans  are  saving  all  the  eggs  they  can  of  their 
fish.  They  put  into  Lake  Erie  last  year  875,000.000  of  young  white  fish,  and 
that  will  represent  more  fishes,  probably,  than  all  the  fleet  at  Erie  has  caught 
or  will  catch  within  the  next  two  or  three  years.  Therefore,  the  Americans 
are  seeding  their  crop  and  destroying  it  rapidly.  The  Canadians  are  not  seed- 
ing it  in  the  same  degree,  and  are  not  destroying  it  in  anything  like  the  same 
degree. 

I  mention  all  this  to  show  you  why  it  is  necessary  for  someone  to  attempt 
to  unify  these  various  conditions.  The  Legislatures  of  Ohio  and  Pennsylvania 
agreed  at  one  time,  through  their  committees,  to  pass  statutes  that  should  be 
just  alike  for  the  two  states.  If  I  remember  correctly,  Pennsylvania's  Legis- 
lature meets  every  year,  and  the  Ohio  Legislature  once  in  two  years.  The  Leg- 
islature of  Pennsylvania  passed  a  statute;  the  Ohio  Legislature  did  not  meet 
until  the  next  year.  Then  Pennsylvania  got  disgusted  and  repealed  the  statute 
which  had  been  enacted  by  its  Legislature,  while  Ohio  loyally  passed  it.  So 
that  they  never  succeed,  and  never  will,  as  long  as  it  goes  on  in  that  way.  in 
getting  together,  although  the  committees  have  agreed  on  the  measures  that 
they  are  trying  to  enact  into  law. 

Any  statutes  which  are  made  to  protect  the  fishes  should  apply  to  them 
when  they  are  on  the  American  side  and  'when  they  are  on  the  Canadian  side, 
because  the  fishes  pass  over  from  the  one  side  to  the  other,  and  especially  in 
the  great  shallow  lake  of  Lake  Erie.  In  Lake  Superior,  they  do  not  do  so,  be- 
cause the  middle  of  Lake  Superior  is  so  terribly  deep  and  so  very  cold  that 
the  fishes  seldom  go  across  it.  Very  deep  water  is  a  region  that  is  almost 
without  fish.  Fishes  abound  mostly  in  shallow  water,  and  especially  among 
the  rocks  and  among  islands. 

Moreover,  any  statutes  that  we  pass,  besides  being  alike  on  both  sides, 
should  consider  the  nature  of  the  different  kinds  of  fishes.  It  is  not  of  any 
value  to  protect  a  fish  when  it  is  spawning,  if  it  spawns  at  some  other  time 
of  the  year  from  the  time  when,  under  the  statute,  you  are  protecting  it.  It  is 
of  no  value  to  say  that  you  shall  not  use  nets  in  catching  a  fish,  when  the 
fish  does  not  go  anywhere  near  the  net.  In  other  words,  it  is  of  no  value  to  do 
anything  which   is  not   good   sense. 

I  omitted  to  say  something  which  is  to  me  important  in  this  connection, 
that  when  this  treaty  was  signed,  I  was  asked  by  President  Roosevelt,  through 
Mr.  Root,  to  become  the  American  representative.  Instead  of  having  a  large 
commission  drawing  up  the  statutes,  the  statutes  are  drawn  up  by  two  men, 
one  from  the  United  States,  and  one  appointed  by  King  Edward,  representing 
Canada.  We  have  already  visited  practically  every  fishing  point  along  the 
boundary  waters  from  New  Brunswick  out  to  Vancouver  Island,  from  Todd's 
Head  in  Maine  clear  through  to  Todd's  Point  on  Vancouver  Island. 

Now,  the  kinds  of  fishes  may  be  gathered  up  in  groups,  and  classified  in 
six  classes.  One  of  them  is  the  herring.  The  herring  lives  in  the  sea.  It  lays 
a  great  number  of  eggs.  Small  and  feeble  as  the  herring  is,  there  are  probably 
more  herring  in  the  ocean  than  there  are  of  any  other  kind  of  fish.  The  her- 
ring lays  a  great  many  eggs,  some  fifty  thousand  or  seventy  thousand  of  them. 
It  lays  them  in  rather  shallow  water,  with  rocks  on  the  bottom,  and  those 
eggs  are  small  eggs,  and  are  laid  in  enormous  numbers.  All  kinds  of  fishes 
that  live  in  the  vicinity,  go  and  take  those  eggs — lobsters  and  crabs  and  all 
kinds  of  animals,  starting  in  with  minute  bacteria,  all  the  way  up  to  the 
largest  animal  that  can  eat  an  egg — they  all  go  after  these  herrings'  eggs.  Yet 
they  make  no  appreciable  reduction  in  the  number  of  herring.  All  the  herring 
that  men  have  caught  have  probably  made  no  reduction  in  their  aggregate 
number. 

Wherever  there  are  herring,  wherever  the  herring  go,  whether  it  be  north 
or  south,  Berendsen  tells  us  a  city  springs  up  as  if  it  were  driftwood  cast  up 
from  the  sea.  Everywhere  in  the  North  Atlantic,  in  Norway,  in  Scotland,  in 
Ireland,  in  England,  in  Denmark,  everywhere,  in  Maine  and  in  Nova  Scotia,  in 
New  Brunswick  and  Ontario  and  Quebec,  and  everywhere  in  Alaska  and  Japan, 
wherever  the  herring  goes,  there  a  town  springs  up.  and  people  live  on  the 
herring.  But  no  appreciable  reduction  in  the  number  of  herring  can  yet  be 
found.  Therefore  what  needs  protection  with  the  herring  is  not  the  herring — 
there  are  so  many  of  them  that  we  cannot  reduce  them — but  it  is  the  industry. 
It  is  possible  for  the  industry  to  destroy  itself  by  the  different  men  engaged 
in  the  work,  working  at  cross  purposes.  So  the  question  of  protection  of  her- 
ring amounts  to  the  fact  that  all  the  protection  the  herring  needs  is  the  pro- 
tection of  the  industry. 

Then  there  is  a  second  class  of  fishes,  very  large  in  number,  that  spawn  in 


TRANS-MISSISSIPPI    COMMERCIAL    CONGRESS  181 

warming-  water,  whose  egg's  hatch  as  the  waters  grow  warmer.  Of  this  group 
of  fishes,  supplying  food  to  the  world,  the  tribe  that  we  call  commonly  pike 
and  pickerel,  is  perhaps  the  best  example.  They  lay  their  eggs  in  the  spring, 
mostly  in  April,  sometimes  in  May.  They  are  laid  as  the  water  grows  warmer, 
and  they  hatch  in  proportion  to  the  warmth  of  the  water.  Those  eggs  can  be 
taken  from  the  fish.  If  you  catch  a  full  grown  female  fish  of  that  sort,  you 
can  squeeze  the  eggs  out  from  it,  and  then  squeeze  the  milt  from  the  male 
fish — the  milt  from  the  male  fish  is  what  fertilizes  the  eggs,  that  is,  the  little 
germs  of  the  milt  enter  the  little  germ  cells  that  we  call  the  eggs,  and  the 
only  difference  between  the  eggs  and  the  milt,  the  only  difference  between 
the  male  and  the  female  is  this,  that  the  female  germ  cell  carries  a  large 
amount  of  food  substance  with  it,  whereas  the  milt  of  the  male  fish,  the 
little  germ,  is  nothing  but  the  pure  nucleus  of  the  cell,  has  no  food  substance 
at  all,  and  so  will  not  live  for  any  great  length  of  time.  You  bring  the  germ 
cells  together,  which  is  done  artificially  by  stirring  them  up  in  a  pan  together, 
and  then  the  egg  is  fertilized,  and  this  fertilized  egg  can  be  put  in  clear  water 
until  the  little  fish  comes  out,  and  it  can  be  kept  as  long  as  you  can  afford  to 
keep  the  little  fish.  The  longer  you  keep  the  little  fish,  the  more  chances  you 
have  of  its  living.  But  if  you  keep  him  too  long,  he  takes  up  too  much  room, 
and  there  is  danger  of  his  starving  or  smothering,  because  of  the  large 
number  of  little  fish  with  which  it  is  kept. 

Artificial  hatching  of  fish  is  simply  this:  You  take  those  eggs,  put  them 
where  nothing  can  get  at  them,  you  fertilize  them  artificially,  and  keep  them 
until  they  are  hatched,  and  as  long  as  you  can,  and  then  you  pour  them  out  in 
a  favorable  locality  where  there  are  not  many  enemies.  The  result  is  that 
twenty  times  as  many  of  the  eggs  live,  sometimes  even  a  hundred  times  as 
many  of  the  eggs  live,  as  live  where  they  are  spawned  in  a  state  of  nature, 
for  you  save  them  from  all  the  enemies  that  destroy  the  eggs,  and  you  save 
them  from  most  of  the  enemies  that  destroy  the  young  fishes. 

The  whole  secret  of  artificial  hatching  is,  then,  to  save  your  eggs,  and 
save  the  young  and  put  them  into  water  when  you  think  they  are  large 
enough,  and  at  that,  into  water  where  there  are  the  fewest  of  their  natural 
enemies.  And  that  process,  as  I  have  said,  saves  anywhere  from  twenty  times 
to  one  hundred  times  as  many  of  them  as  can  be  saved  by  propagating  them 
in  the  natural  way. 

Pickerel  and  pike  of  the  different  kinds  are  examples,  and  the  yellow 
perch  is  also  an  example,  of  fish  spawning  in  warming  water  which  can  be 
collected  in  April,  and  can  be  spawned  in  April  or  May,  and  the  little  fishes 
turned  out  some  time  in  May  or  some  time  in  June. 

The  only  real  question  with  these  fishes,  is  whether  they  are  worth  hatch- 
ing or  not.  It  is  an  open  question  whether  yellow  perch  are  worth  bothering 
with.  But  there  is  no  question  that  the  wall-eyed  pike  or  pike  perch,  which  is 
found  in  such  great  numbers  in  the  Great  Lakes,  is  worth  the  bother,  and 
so  that  is  one  of  the  kind  of  fishes  that  we  try  to  propagate. 

Then  there  is  another  kind  of  fish,  another  group  of  fishes  spawning  in 
the  same  water,  the  warming  water  in  spring,  and  the  eggs  hatching  in  the 
warming  water.  This  type  is  illustrated  by  the  black  bass.  But  the  black 
bass  eggs  are  stuck  together.  You  cannot  separate  them.  You  cannot  arti- 
ficially propagate  them.  They  will  die  if  you  get  them  out  in  a  pan  and  stir 
them  up  together.  There  is  no  way  by  which  you  can  artificially  handle  those 
eggs.  But  the  black  bass  knows  something  better  than  that.  He  maintains  a 
hatchery  of  his  own.  The  female  bass  lays  her  eggs  in  a  pile  of  gravel  that  the 
male  bass  helps  to  scoop  up.  The  male  bass  covers  those  eggs  with  the  milt, 
and  then  stands  guard  over  it.  There  cannot  any  other  fish  come  around  until 
all  those  eggs  are  hatched.  He  stands  off  the  wall-eyed  pike,  and  he  stands 
off  all  the  various  kinds  of  shell  fish,  the  various  kinds  of  trout,  and  none 
of  them  can  live  upon  the  spawn  of  the  black  bass,  even  if  they  happen  to 
live  in  the  same  water.  The  female  black  bass  often  devours  the  eggs,  but 
generally  the  male  black  bass  will  not  let  her  do  so.  The  male  stands  guard. 
He  maintains,  as  I  said,  his  own  hatchery.  So  all  we  need  to  do  with  the 
black  bass  is  to  see  that  he  is  allowed  to  stand  guard,  and  that  nobody  comes 
along  with  a  hook  and  takes  him  off  while  he  is  standing  guard,  that  nobody 
comes  along  with  a  grab-hook  and  catches  him,  if  he  won't  bite,  and  that 
nobody  comes  along  with  a  net  and  sweeps  him  ruthlessly  into  the  net.  So 
long  as  you  let  him  stand  guard,  he  is  going  to  raise  anywhere  from  20,000 
to  50,000  of  those  young  black  bass,  and  he  does  not  need  any  artificial  help 
except  to  keep  off  the  enemies  who  would  take  him  off  while  he  is  thus 
maintaining  it.  When  he  gets  through  and  the  little  ones  are  all  hatched, 
then  he  eats  four  or  five  thousand  of  them  as  a  reward  for  his  trouble,  and 
presumably  picks  up  those  who  are  slowest  to  get  away  from  strong  ones 
taken  at  the  same  time.  He  is  a  very  destructive  fish;  he  devours  the 
young  of  all  kinds  of  fish,  and  his  own  after  he  has  got  through  hatching 
them.  But  for  all  that,  he  is  one  of  the  finest  game  fish  in  the  world,  and 
there  are  very  large  tracts  of  the  United  States  in  which  the  black  bass 
as   a   game   fish   is   worth   more   than   all   their   other   assets.      For   that   reason, 


182  REPORT    OF    PROCEEDINGS 

the  Thousand  Islands  and  the  Apostles  Islands  and  the  Chinoux  Islands  and 
Bass  Islands  at  Lake  Erie,  and  the  islands  at  Lake  Mempliremagog  and  many 
pairs  of  Lake  Champ  lain,  are  more  valuable  for  the  hook  and  line  fishing 
of  black  bass  than  for  any  other  one  thins,  owing'  to  the  enormous  numbers  of 
people  who  go  there  from  New  York  and  Boston  and  other  great  cities,  and 
in  that  respect   they  are  more   valuable  than   any  other   kind  of   fisheries. 

Therefore,  we  shall  protect  the  bass  by  making  it  a  misdemeanor  to 
sell  a  black  bass  from  any  international  waters,  besides  making  limits  as  to 
size  and  keeping  the  nets  out  in  the  spawning  time,  and  keeping  the  hooks 
out  in  the  spawning  time,  and  keeping  the  grab-hooks  out  at  all  times.  We 
shall  further  make  it  impossible  to  buy  or  sell  or  offer  for  sale  the  black  bass 
from  any  of  those  international  waters.  That  will  save  him  from  destruc- 
tion, and   set  the  pace  for  other  angling  districts. 

The  black  bass,  counting  everything,  is  perhaps  the  best  game  fish  in 
the  world.  There  are  a  number  of  kinds  of  trout  that  I  care  for  more,  and 
there  are  the  grayling  and  some  other  fishes  in  the  same  category.  But,  taking 
it  as  it  comes,  recognizing  his  many  good  qualities,  recognizing  the  fact 
that  he  lives  in  a  great  many  waters  where  finer  fish  won't  live,  and 
recognizing  the  fact  that  two-thirds  of  the  anglers  of  the  United  States 
think  there  is  no  finer  fish  than  the  black  bass,  it  is  very  important  that 
this  group  of  fishes  shall  be  protected  and  amply  protected. 

The  third  group  of  fishes  is  made  up  of  the  four  or  five  kinds  of  sturgeon. 
You  know  a  sturgeon  is  a  very  large  fish,  larger  than  a  man.  when  it  is  full 
grown,  There  are  sturgeons  in  all  the  boundary  waters,  two  species  in  the 
Atlantic  Ocean,  one  species  in  the  Great  Lakes,  and  two  species  in  the  Pacific 
Ocean,  all  of  them  running  up  the  rivers  to  spawn.  The  sturgeon  is  a  valuable 
fish,  because  of  the  large  amount  of  sea  bass  you  can  cut  out  of  the  sturgeon. 
They  used  to  sell  the  sturgeon  here  at  our  fish  markets  as  sea  bass,  and  you 
can  cut  a  great  many  sea  bass  out  of  one  sturgeon.  More  valuable,  however, 
than  all  the  stock  of  sea  bass  that  you  can  cut  out  of  a  sturgeon,  is  the  great 
value  of  its  eggs.  They  are  salted  and  prepared  and  sold  as  caviar.  The 
Russian  sturgeons  that  formerly  made  the  caviar  of  the  world  have  become 
very  rare.  They  have  been  overfished  there,  and  now  our  own  sturgeon  have 
been  attacked  in  the  same  way.  A  man  by  the  name  of  Poole,  I  mention  his 
name  for  execration,  went  up  from  the  city  of  Escanaba,  in  Michigan,  to  the 
Lake  of  the  Woods,  where  the  sturgeons  existed  in  great  abundance,  and  when 
they  ran  up  the  Rainy  River  to  'spawn,  he  had  his  men  in  there  with  nets 
and  grab-hooks,  and  they  caught  upwards  of  a  million  and  carried  them  up 
on  the  banks  of  the  river  and  killed  them  for  the  caviar,  almost  destroying 
them  in  that  lake,  so  that  now  it  is  a  very  rare  thing  to  find  a  sturgeon  in 
that  lake  at  all.  Over  the  Great  Lakes,  people  have  gone  at  them  with  hooks, 
with  grab-hooks  and  with  nets,  as  they  go  up  the  rivers  where  they  spawn, 
and  in  that  way  have  almost  exterminated  the  sturgeon  all  over  the  country. 

The  sturgeon  lays  a  great  many  eggs,  and  it  ought  to  be  easy  to  propagate 
them.  But  the  sturgeon  has  bad  habits.  When  you  get  a  fish  perfectly  ready 
to  spawn,  and  catch  it,  the  spawn  and  the  milt  are  thrown  out  at  once  and 
scattered  away  where  you  can  not  get  them.  It  is  a  fish  that  will  not  bear 
handling.  If  you  keep  the  fish  any  length  of  time  at  all.  taking  it  before  it 
ripens,  it  will  never  ripen,  but  it  will  die.  So  we  have  not  yet  been  able  to  do 
anything  whatever  with  the  artificial  spawning  of  the  sturgeon.  The  only 
thing  that  I  can  see  to  properly  protect  the  sturgeon,  therefore,  is  to  make 
ii  a  inisdemeanor  to  catch  a  sturgeon  and  kill  one  at  all  until  Nature  has 
restored  the  number  of  those  that  were  destroyed  by  Poole  of  Escanaba,  and 
it  will  take  Nature  anywhere  from  five  to  twenty  years  to  make  up  for  and 
restore  to  the  normal  condition,  the  enormous  waste  which  was  entailed  in  a 
single  summer  in  that  lake,  and  which  has  been  repeated  in  so  many  of  the 
other  Great  Lakes  and   rivers  of  this  country. 

I  remember  that  twenty-eight  years  aigo,  when  I  was  sent  here  by  the 
Government  to  examine  the  fishes  of  San  Francisco  Ray.  there  were  in  the 
market  all  the  time  and  every  day,  sturgeons,  and  now  it  is  a  very  rare 
thing  to  see  a  sturgeon,  and  the  laws  of  California  now  prevent  anyone  from 
destroying  one  of  them  at  all.  waiting  for  them  to  come  back  to  their  natural 
lie.  One  of  the  species  of  sturgeon,  the  green  sturgeon.  1  have  not  seen 
here  for  twenty-five  years,  and  it  may  be  that  they  are  all  gone  so  far  as 
California   is    concerned. 

Therefore,  the  natural  protection  that  ought  to  be  given  in  the  lakes  is  to 
not  allow  any  sturgeon  whatever  to  be  destroyed  for  a  certain  number  of 
years,  anil  after  that  not  to  allow  any  to  be  destroyed  less,  we  will  say,  than 
four  feet  long.  We  want  to  give  each  one  of  those  fishes  a  ehanee  to  spawn 
;,t  least  ohce.  Then,  after  it  has  turned  its  fifty  thousand  or  a  hundred 
thousand  eggs  out.  and  contributed  to  the  general  stock  of  sturgeon,  then  we 
can  take  thai  one  away,  just  as  we  cut  down  a  tree  that  has  reached  its 
girth  in  the  forest,  and  leave  other  trees  that  have  not  attained  their  girth 
to   grow    up. 


TRANS-MISSISSIPPI    COMMERCIAL    CONGRESS 


183 


The  next  type  of  fish  is  made  up  of  those  that  spawn  in  the  fall,  and 
whose  eggs  hatch  as  the  water  grows  cold.  You  would  not  naturally  think 
that  there  are  any  such  fish.  It  certainly  is  not  common  sense  for  a  fish  to 
deposit  its  eggs  in  a  cold  lake,  just  as  the  ice  is  beginning  to  form,  and 
expect  those  eggs  to  hatch  out  in  the  middle  of  the  winter.  But  that  is  just 
what  many  of  the  most  valuable  of  our  fishes  do.  To  this  class  belong  the 
trout  and  the  white  fish  and  the  lake  herring,  and  fish  of  various  other  kinds. 
There  are  a  good  many  kinds  of  trout,  a  good  many  kinds  of  white  fish,  a 
good  many  even  of  the  cisco,  which  is  called  all  over  the  Great  Lakes  the  lake 
herring,  although  it  is  not  a  herring  at  all. 

These  fishes  swim  about  in  the  summertime,  they  pay  no  attention  to  the 
springtime  when  other  fishes  are  spawning,  but  along  in  October  they  begin 
to  move  toward  the  reefs.  Then  they  can  generally  be  fairly  easily  caught,  and 
the  way  our  statutes  read,  that  is  the  time  when  they  are  caught.  Then  in  the 
month  of  November,  they  lay  their  eggs,  and  when  they  are  caught,  their  eggs 
can  be  at  once  saved.  On  the  deck  of  an  ordinary  boat,  the  eggs  of  a  white  fish 
can  be  saved — the  thirty  thousand  or  forty  thousand  or  fifty  thousand  or  eighty 
thousand  of  them;  the  eggs  of  the  Great  Lakes  trout  can  be  squeezed  right  out 
into  a  pan  and  saved,  so  that  it  would  be  possible  for  a  vessel  catching  ten 
thousand  fishes  in  a  day  to  save  practically  the  eggs  and  milt  of  them  all, 
and  then  fertilize  the  eggs  and  put  them  back  into  the  water  in  a  proper  way. 
These  fishes  represent  the  best  of  the  lake  fishes  of  the  world,  and  con- 
sequently their  propagation  is  more  important  than  that  of  anything  else 
throughout   our  Great  Lakes  system. 

The  way  to  protect  these  fishes  is,  in  the  first  place,  to  guarantee  that 
every  one  of  them  shall  have  had  a  chance  to  spawn  once  as  a  young  fish  (they 
do  not  have  many  eggs  then),  and  then  to  spawn  once  as  a  grown  fish,  and 
then  to  be  taken  away.  So  we  should  see  to  it  that  none  of  these  fish  weighing 
less  than  a  certain  number  of  pounds  should  be  sold  or  bought  or  offered  for 
sale,  which  would  mean  that  if  a  man  catches  one  that  is  less  than  the  size, 
he  has  to  eat  it.  There  is  no  use  in  putting  one  of  those  fish  back,  as  they  die 
at  once  if  taken  out  of  the  water.  But  we  can  prevent  the  man  from  destroying 
a  great  many  of  the  young  ones  by  forbidding  him  to  sell  them — and  if  he  has 
to  eat  them  himself,  he  will  not  take  the  interest  in  their  destruction.  So  the 
most  effective  way  to  preserve  the  white  fish  is  to  see  that  none  less  than  two 
and  a  half  pounds  each  shall  be  bought  or  sold  or  offered  for  sale  in  the  time 
they  are  spawning.  It  happens  that  they  are  just  as  good  at  the  spav%  ning  time  as 
at  any  other  time;  about  November  is  the  time  when  the  fish  are  generally 
caught,  because  the  water  is  then  best  for  catching  them.  So  it  is  possible 
to  provide  every  boat  that  goes  out  into  Lake  Erie  with  the  apparatus  for 
saving  the  spawn,  and  for  refusing  to  allow  any  boat  to  go  out  unless  they 
make  arrangements  for  preserving  those  fish  and  giving  them  an  opportunity 
to  spawn  where  they  can  be  properly  cared  for,  either  taking  the  spawn  to 
some  one  of  the  fish  hatcheries,  or  putting  it  into  the  lake  in  a  proper  way. 

As  I  told  you  a  few  minutes  ago,  we  have  this  last  year  put  875,000,000 
of  young  white  fish  into  Lake  Erie,  and  in  doing  that  we  are  more  than  keeping 
ahead  of  the  hundred  large  boats  that  go  from  Erie,  Pennsylvania,  in  the 
fishing  business.  We  do  not  usually  recognize  this  fact,  but  the  best  fishing 
port  in  fresh  water  in  all  the  world  is  Erie,  Pennsylvania.  I  always  thought 
of  it  as  an  iron  state,  and  not  a  state  of  fish.  But,  looking  at  the  town  from 
the  fish  side  of  it,  so  to  speak,  more  fish  are  brought  in  there  than  in  any 
other  fresh   water  port   in  any  part  of  the  world   whatever. 

The  last  type  of  these  fishes  is  made  up  of  fishes  that  come  up  from  the 
sea  in  the  fall  and  that  spawn  just  as  the  trout  and  the  white  fish  do,  in 
cooling  water.  These  we  call  salmon.  In  the  Atlantic  Ocean,  there  is  one 
species  of  salmon,  which  is  very  much  like  the  fish  we  call  the  steel-head  out 
here,  which  is  a  trout,  and  this  salmon  runs  up  the  river,  deposits  its  spawn 
in  the  fall,  goes  down  again  to  the  sea,  and  goes  up  again  the  next  year,  and 
so  on,  indefinitely,  until  it  dies.  But  the  fishes  that  we  call  salmon  in  the 
Pacific  are  fishes  of  very  different  habits.  There  are  five  of  these  fishes.  The 
one  that  we  call  the  king  or  Quinnat  salmon,  or  spring  salmon,  or  the  salmon 
of  the  Columbia  River,  is  the  great  salmon,  which  averages,  when  four  years 
of  age,  twentv-two  pounds  in  weight.  This  salmon  on  the  average  matures 
when  it  is  four  years  old.  It  weighs  then,  as  I  say,  about  twenty-two  pounds, 
sometimes  going  to  a  hundred  pounds,  but  usually  twenty-two  pounds.  We 
think  those  that  weigh  a  hundred  pounds  have  lived  longer,  have  failed  to 
spawn  at  the  proper  time,  and  so  have  lived  longer,  but  we  do  not  know. 

Then  we  have  the  red  salmon,  that  is  called  the  blueback  in  the  Columbia, 
that  is  called  the  sockeye  in  the  Frazer  River,  and  called  by  various  names 
elsewhere.  This  is  the  most  valuable  fish  of  the  sea,  because  in  the  aggregate 
it  probably  yields  more  wealth  than  any  other  kind  of  fish  whatever.  It  makes 
up  the  great  bulk  of  all  the  salmon  that  are  brought  to  us  from  Alaska.      That 


184  REPORT    OP    PROCEEDINGS 

is  a  smaller  fish,  averaging  perhaps  only  eight  pounds,  and  reaching  its 
maturity  at  the  age  of  four  years. 

Then,  we  have,  besides  those  two  noble  salmon,  the  silver  salmon,  as  it 
is  called,  which  is  very  much  the  same  as  the  red  salmon  in  its  general 
properties,  except  that  its  flesh  is  not  so  red.  It  is  just  as  good  to  eat,  but 
it  does  not  look  so  well  when  it  is  canned,  and  its  habits  are  not  so  good. 

Then  we  have  the  hump-back  salmon,  a  salmon  which  at  maturity  weighs 
five  or  six  pounds,  which  exists  in  enormous  numbers  in  Alaska,  and  is  some- 
times found  upon  Puget  Sound,  and  probably  matures  in  less  than  four  years, 
we  think  very  likely  in  two  years. 

Then  we  have  besides  these  the  large  dog  salmon,  which  has  soft  and 
mushy  flesh,  and  which  has  no  very  great  value,  although  it  looks  very  much 
like   the   king   salmon. 

Those  are  the  five  kinds  of  salmon.  All  of  them  are  noble  salmon,  because 
they  start  in  the  spring  and  run  a  long  distance  up  the  rivers.  The  other 
kinds  of  salmon  start  in  the  fall,  and  they  only  go  up  the  river  a  little  way. 
Sometimes  they  go  up  only  ten  feet  and  spawn,  and  sometimes  they  go  up 
eight  or  ten  miles,  but  never  for  any  great  distance. 

The  king  salmon,  the  great  salmon  of  the  Sacramento,  runs  up  the  river 
as  far  as  the  Sacramento  River  is  open — any  stream  at  the  head  of  the  Sacra- 
mento is  likely  to  have  this  fish  spawning  in  it.  In  the  Columbia  River  it 
runs  up  as  far  as  the  edge  of  Montana  and  the  farther  part  of  Idaho,  running 
up  something  like  a  thousand  miles.  In  the  great  Yukon  River  the  king 
salmon  runs  as  far  as  Caribou  Crossing,  which  is  a  distance  of  2,200  miles  from 
the  sea. 

The  red  salmon  runs  up  various  distances.  Sometimes  you  find  them 
spawning  half  a  mile  from  the  sea,  and  sometimes  you  find  them  spawning, 
in  the  Yukon  territory,  as  far  as  the  head  of  Lake  Lebarge,  just  about  1,800 
miles  from   the   sea,   going  up   immense   distances. 

These  salmon  that  run  up  these  great  distances  have  this  habit:  the  little 
fishes  are  spawned  in  the  head  of  the  river.  The  male  scoops  out  the  gravel 
and  makes  ready  a  place  to  deposit  the  eggs,  and  the  female  deposits  her 
spawn.  The  male  stays  around  a  little  while,  and  then  drops  in  the  current, 
head  up  the  stream,  after  fertilizing  the  eggs,  and  goes  down  the  stream, 
tail  foremost,  and  in  the  course  of  a  week  dies.  The  female  goes  out  in 
the  stream  and  goes  tail  foremost  down  the  river,  and  in  the  course  of  a 
week  or  so,  she  dies.  So  that  after  they  have  once  spawned,  every  one  of 
the  salmon  of  the  Pacific  dies.  They  are  just  as  dead  as  can  be.  All  of  the 
protoplasm  in  the  cells  of  the  body  have  gone  out,  and  they  weigh  only  about 
one-third  to  one-half  as  much  as  they  weighed  when  they  went  up  the  river. 
When  they  start  to  go  up  the  river,  too,  they  do  not  eat  any  more.  The 
stomach  of  the  salmon  shrivels  all  up,  and  they  will  not  take  the  hook,  or  do 
anything  when   going  up  the   river. 

The  little  salmon  are  hatched  in  the  gravel,  and  they  go  tail  foremost 
down  the  stream,  until  finally  they  get  down  to  the  sea.  The  big  king  salmon 
goes  down  into  the  sea  at  the  close  of  the  first  summer.  The  rest  of  the 
salmon  stay  up  there  a  year.  He  is  always  spawned  above  some  lake,  and 
goes  down  into  the  lake  and  stays  in  the  lake  the  second  year,  and  then  at 
the  end  of  the  second  year  he  wiggles  down,  tail  foremost,  to  the  sea,  and 
goes  directly  out  into  the  sea,  does  not  stay  close  to  the  shore  as  other  kinds 
of  salmon   do. 

It  is  a  very  curious  fact  that  red  salmon  never  spawn  in  any  stream,  no 
matter  whether  big  or  little,  that  does  not  have  a  lake  in  it.  He  does  not  care 
Whether  the  water  is  clear,  as  it  is  in  most  of  our  lakes,  or  whether  it  is 
murky,  as  in  the  case  of  lakes  like  Chilkoot — he  does  not  care  very  much 
about  that;  does  not  care  whether  the  water  is  warm  or  cold.  But  he  is 
always  governed  by  there  being  a  lake  in  the  stream,  in  order  that  the 
young  fish  may  have  a  place  to  spend  their  first  year. 

How  does  he  locate  the  river,  how  determine  whether  the  river  has  a  lake 
on  it?  That  is  one  of  the  greatest  puzzles  that  we  have  in  regard  to  fish  life. 
We  do  not  know  how  he  knows.  We  have  found  places  where  the  big  king 
salmon  and  the  red  salmon  will  go  side  by  side  up  a  stream,  and  finally 
you  come  to  a  place  where  there  is  a  branching,  where  two  streams  go  to 
make  up  the  one  below,  and  the  king  salmon  will  go  up  in  either  one, 
indiscriminately,  while  the  red  salmon  will  always  turn  up  the  stream  that 
has  the  lake  in  it.  I  have  never  heard  of  a  red  salmon  yet.  of  the  millions  I 
know  of,  more  or  less,  that  has  been  found  in  any  stream  that  has  not  a  lake 
somewhere  within  it.  And.  as  I  say,  it  is  one  of  the  greatest  puzzles  we  have 
in  natural  history,  to  know  how  these  fish  know  that  the  stream  that  they 
are   running  for  has  a  lake   in   it. 

The  king  salmon  come  down  from  the  Sacramento  River,  where  they  are 
the  only  salmon,  come  down  into  the  bay,  go  out  into  the  sea,  and  the  vast 
majority   of  them  simply  pass  over  into   Monterey    Hay.     They  do  not  go  away 


TRANS-MISSISSIPPI    COMMERCIAL    CONGRESS 


185 


very  far,  and  when  the  time  comes  for  their  breeding,  when  they  are  four 
years. old,  then  they  have  worked  their  way  along  the  coast,  and  they  find 
where  fresh   water  is   running  into  the   sea,  and  they  go  right  up. 

I  do  not  believe  there  is  any  truth  in  the  statement  that  a  salmon  always 
goes  back  to  the  place  where  he  is  spawned,  otherwise  than  this,  that  the 
salmon  from  the  Sacramento,  must  go  back  there — there  is  nowhere  else  for 
him  to  go;  the  salmon  from  the  Columbia  River  must  go  back  there  because 
there  is  nowhere  else  for  him  to  go.  But  in  Alaska,  where  streams  are  many, 
that  is  not  the  case.  We  have  found  a  great  many  cases  of  fishes  that  have 
been  marked  from  one  place,  from  one  stream,  going  up  another.  In  one  case 
I  caught  some  fishes  going  up  the  river  at  Karluk,  marked  them,  and  one  of 
them  was  caught  the  next  day  a  hundred  miles  away  trying  to  go  up  a  stream 
on    the   other    side    of   the   islands. 

When  the  salmon  start  to  go  up  the  river  they  are  symmetrical,  fine  look- 
ing. The  flesh  is  in  its  very  best  condition.  They  are  in  every  way  fine  fish. 
As  they  go  up  the  river,  they  use  up  more  or  less  of  the  oil  in  their  flesh,  they 
do  not  eat  anything,  and  they  feed  on  themselves,  and  as  they  go  farther  up 
the  river  the  scales  grow  more  and  more  slimy,  they  begin  to  settle  into  the 
skin,  that  is,  the  slimy  skin  grows  over  the  scales,  the  nose  of  the  male 
salmon  grows  longer  and  longer,  and  by  and  by  the  nose  forms  a  great  hook 
with  very  much  enlarged  teeth,  so  much  so  that  it  often  can  not  shut  its 
mouth,  sometimes  so  that  the  lower  jaw  comes  right  up  through  the  upper 
edge  and  punches  a  hole  through  it,  if  one  has  been  pushed  against  the  other. 
Then  a  hump  develops  at  the  back,  and  the  color  changes,  and  no  one  would 
dream,  when  they  get  up  the  river  three  or  four  hundred  miles,  that  they  are 
the  same  fish  that  started  up  the  river  at  its  mouth.  As  to  the  change  of 
the  color — the  bright  blue  of  the  blue-back  salmon  changes  into  a  bright  red 
with  a  green  head,  and  other  salmon  grow  to  be  of  a  dusky  or  mud  color  and 
dirty.  The  flesh  grows  paler,  the  oil  has  gone  out  of  it,  and  a  great  change 
comes  in  the  lengthening  of  the  snout  and  dipping  it  over  in  the  form  of  a 
hook,  the  growth  of  the  teeth  on  each  end  of  it,  and  the  changes  that  take 
place  around  the  head.  These  salmon  look  very  savage  and  will  sometimes 
snap  at  a  fish,  and  often  at  the  hook,  but  they  never  eat  anything,  they  are 
so  bent  on  their  business.  They  move  straight,  once  they  get  into  the  river; 
they  never  turn  around  for  any  purpose,  but  go  straight  up.  Of  course,  this 
habit  of  going  straight  up  the  river,  makes  it  a  comparatively  easy  thing  to 
catch   them. 

In  our  international  rivers,  we  have  this  great  problem.  The  Frazer  River 
is  the  great  hatching  place  for  salmon  in  that  part  of  the  world.  It  is  entirely 
in  Canadian  territory.  But  the  greater  part  of  the  fishing  grounds  is  in  the 
United  States.  The  red  salmon  come  in  from  the  Straits  of  Fuca  from  the 
open  sea  in  a  great  school,  schools  so  great  that  in  many  cases  many  of  the 
salmon  are  obliged  to  jump  into  the  air  by  those  that  are  below.  They  go  in 
the  middle  of  the  channel,  so  that  it  is  very  hard  to  catch  them  at  first.  They 
go  right  up  the  Straits  of  Fuca  until  they  come  across  the  St.  John  Islands, 
and  there  they  find  three  channels  open.  One  of  those  channels  leads  to  the 
east,  to  the  Skagitat  River  in  the  state  of  Washington,  and  a  few  go  that 
way.  The  great  body  of  them  go  to  the  north  and  strike  a  projecting  nook  or 
point  called  Point  Repair,  and  that  is  simply  lined  with  nets  fastened  to  long 
stakes,  some  of  those  nets  a  half  a  mile  long,  and  of  course  millions  and 
millions  of  those  fish  go  against  those  nets  and  are  caught.  As  many  more 
go  right  on,  going  into  the  Frazer  River,  and  they  find  right  there  a  perfect 
mesh  of  nets,  practically  filling  the  river,  and  those  they  have  to  pass. 
The  only  reason  that  any  of  them  get  by  all  of  that  network  in  the  river  is 
that  there  are  certain  times,  every  Sunday,  when  these  nets  all  have  to  come 
out  of  the  river,  just  as  there  are  certain  times  when  our  nets  are  supposed 
to  be  closed — whether  they  are  closed  or  not  is  an  international  question.  The 
presumption  is  that  they  are  closed. 

A  great  body  of  those  fish  then  attempt  to  go  up  the  river,  and  those  on 
Sunday  get  past.  Then  for  about  forty  miles,  as  the  river  goes  north,  the 
farmers  up  along  the  river  have  their  nets  all  set,  and  by  and  by  maybe 
one  out  of  a  thousand  or  ten  thousand  gets  up  to  the  spawning  ground  in  the 
Frazer  River. 

Now,  in  regard  to  these  salmon,  this  is  our  problem:  We  can  not  take 
the  eggs  out  of  the  fish  when  the  fish  are  fit  to  eat,  because  when  the  fish 
are  fit  to  eat  they  are  not  ready  to  spawn.  And  in  order  to  protect  the  salmon, 
is  merely  to  leave  a  sufficient  channel  through  those  nets  in  the  river  to  allow 
enough  fish  to  get  up  to  cover  the  spawning  grounds  to  furnish  the  fish  that 
are  necessary  to  the  fish  hatcheries.  As  I  said  before,  if  the  fish  hatcheries 
can  get  hold  of  a  certain  number  of  fish,  they  can  make  those  fish  yield,  each 
one  of  them,  twenty  to  a  hundred  times  of  what  would  be  the  result  of  natural 
spawning  upon  the  spawning  ground.  But  the  fishing  has  been  so  great  in 
Puget    Sound    and    the    Frazer   River    that    there   have   been    three    of   the    four 


186 


REPORT    OF    PROCEEDINGS 


years  following  each  other  when  there  were  not  fish  enough  for  the  spawning 
"ie   fourth    year,   therefore,   there   will   he  enough.     And   sir  every 
a    full   \'ar.  anil   the  other  three  years  are  below  whal   it  should 


fourth  year  is 
normally  be. 


rmatiy  De. 
I'  Is  our  problem  to  see  thai  greal  numbers  are  taken,  but  that  enough 
get  by  and  reach  the  spawning  grounds  so  that  the  spawning  grounds  will  be 
covered,  and  especially  to  see  thai  the  hatcheries  have  enough  to  work  on. 
Unfortunately,  there  are  no  fish  hatcheries  on  the  Frazer  River,  the  spawning 
grounds  heing  in  Canadian  territory,  and  of  course  that  work  must  he  done 
by  the  Canadians,  If  done  at  all,  and  they  have  even  refused  to  take  our  money 
or  our  help  in  any  way  in  that  respect.  That  problem  -is  a  very  important 
one.  The  Frazer  River  is  one  of  the  greatest  salmon  rivers  in  the  world.  The 
salmon  industry  there  is  of  enormous  value.  Even  in  this  year,  one  of  the 
worst  years  they  have  had.  possibly,  they  have  canned  something  like  three 
millions  of  these  red  salmon  in  and  around  the  mouth  of  the  Frazer  River. 
There  ought  to  be  fifteen  or  twenty  millions  of  them  available,  and  yet  enough 
left  to  cover  the  spawning  grounds. 

And    by    the    way,   when    the    spawning   grounds    are    fill 
off  than  when  they  are  only  partly  full,  because  you  will 


filled,  they  are  worse 
..ill  sometimes  find  one 
set  of  fish  will  deposit  their  eggs,  and  another  set  of  fish  will  come  along  and 
not  only  bury  the  eggs  of  the  first  fish,  but  bury  the  first  fish,  and  that  makes 
a  mess  of  dead  fish  and  eggs  and  everything  else.  You  can  not  trust  Nature; 
you   need   to   regulate   her   and   see   that   she   does  just   about   right. 

By  the  way.  I   will   say   that   in   the  early  days  of  the  salmon   in   the  Sacra- 
mento  River,    that    river   was 
heavy  fishing  came,  and   the 

greatly  reduced.  Then  there  came  the  mining  man.  and  then  the  lumbering 
man,  and  they  destroyed  jointly  nearly  all  of  the  spawning  beds  of  the  salmon. 
But  the  fish  hatcheries  have  been  able  to  put  so  many  fish  into  the  Sacramento 


that  in  the  early  days  of  the  salmon  in  the  Sacra- 
is  enormously  tilled  up  with  salmon,  and  then  the 
te   amount   of   salmon    in   the   Sacramento   River   was 


taken    on    the   other,    so   as   not   to    . 

sold    in    the    United    States,   and    smuggled    over 

another 


he 


I  hem     refuse     ♦  (I     go     SO 

one   side   are    lish    illegally 

smuggled    from   Canada    to    ..e   .^.m 

front    the    I'nited   States    to   In-   sold    in    Canada — Shipped    to   Montreal. 

That,  in  a  way,  outlines  what  we  are  trying  to  do.  There  is 
problem  more  important  than  that.  1  was  sent  by  the  I'nited  States  Govern- 
ment twenty-elghl  years  ago  to  the  Columbia  River  to  Investigate  the  condi- 
tions that  were  there  tit  that  lime.  They  were  then  canning,  with  very  few 
nets,  and  simple  appliances,  one  and  a  half  million  of  those  big  salmon  every 
year.  The  canning  industry  twenty-elghl  years  ago  had  been  very  little 
The    Booths    were   among   the   first    that    did    that. 


established. 


a 

Go 


been 

Then   there    were 
T  said   to  the 


number   Of  others,   whose   names   do   not    matter    for    the   present.      I  said   to    the 
ivernmenl    at    that    time    that    unless    Washington   and   Oregon   could   agree  on 


TRANS-MISSISSIPPI    COMMERCIAL    CONGRESS  187 

statutes  for  protecting-  those  fish,  there  was  no  reason  why  ten  times  as 
many  nets  would  not  be  brought  in  before  long  and  ten  times  as  many  fisher- 
men come  there,  and,  while  they  were  taking  as  many  fish  then  as  the  river 
would  stand,  they  would,  when  that  time  was  reached,  be  taking  a  great  many 
more  than  the  river  could  stand,  and  the  industry  would  be  destroyed.  And 
we  have  now  in  the  Columbia  River  a  horrible  condition  of  things.  The  fisheries 
have  been  almost  ruined.  There  is  no  limit  whatever  on  the  number  of  nets  on 
either  side.  Near  the  mouth,  the  gill  nets  simply  swarm,  and  as  we  go  up,  the 
fish  wheel  has  been  respectfully  picking  up  the  fish  as  they  go  up  the  stream, 
and  tossing  them  up  on  the  bank — one  of  the  most  ingenious  and  devilish 
contrivances  ever  made  for  catching  fish.  It  does  not  do  any  more  harm  to 
catch  a  fish  in  that  way  than  to  have  it  caught  by  some  other  means,  excepting 
that  what  they  catch  is  on  top  and  the  fact  that  the  river  is  a  perfect  cobweb 
of  nets  along  the  way  from  there  down   to  the  sea. 

Whatever  salmon  manage  to  get  past  all  of  these  and  up  to  the  upper 
portions  of  the  river,  men  go  out  in  the  river  with  nets  and  simply  catch 
anything  and  everything  that  comes  along.  And  it  is  a  marvel  that  any 
salmon  are  spawned  and  hatched.  And  perhaps  there  would  not  be  any,  if 
it    were   not   for    the   activity    of    the    hatcheries. 

But  the  men  in  charge  of  these  hatcheries  are  not  just  the  kind  of  men 
they  should  be.  It  takes  a  skilful  man  to  handle  a  hatchery,  and  there  are 
not  one-tenth  as  many  well  trained  in  that  line  of  business  as  there  should  be. 
The  difference  between  a  man  who  knows  his  business  and  a  man  who  does  not 
is  just  as  great  in  the  fish-hatching  business  as  it  is  in  raising  prunes,  as  it 
is  in  raising  oranges,  as  it  is  in  raising  fine  horses.  When  our  Government 
pays  the  nephews  of  Congressmen  and  competent  hatchers  the  same  salary, 
the  friends  of  the  nephews  of  Congressmen  are  going  to  monopolize  largely 
that  kind  of  work.  That  sort  of  thing  is  a  great  deal  better  now  than  it  used 
to  be,  but  it  needs  still  to  have  a  better  type  of  men  in  the  hatcheries.  It  needs 
to  have  in  the  hatcheries  much  more  skilful  men,  if  we  are  going  to  get  out  of 
them  what  we  ought  to  do. 

The  people  of  Washington  and  Oregon  have  been  very  alert  to  the  destruc- 
tion of  their  fisheries,  and  this  alertness  has  shown  itself  in  curious  ways. 
Oregon  has  now  the  referendum,  and  no  one  can  tell  what  is  coming  when  the 
referendum  is  on.  It  may  be  the  very  best  way  to  make  statutes,  but  it  gives 
an  element  of  uncertainty  that  some  other  methods  do  not  give.  The  use  of 
the  referendum  in  Oregon  resulted  in  the  passage  of  a  statute  that  the  fish 
wheel  must  be  destroyed,  and  that  there  should  be  no  fishing  above  tide 
water.  Then  it  went  further  and  said  there  should  practically  be  no  fishing 
below  tide  water,  that  is,  that  there  should  be  no  fishing  at  night  in  the  lower 
stretches  of  the  river.  The  river  is  so  clear  that  the  fish  will  avoid  the  gill 
nets,   unless  they  are   stretched  in  the  night.     So   far  so  good. 

But,  on  the  other  side  of  the  river.  Washington  has  not  seen  fit  to  make 
the  change  in  her  laws,  and  the  result  is  that  fish  wheels  and  nets  and  every- 
thing else  go  over  to  the  Washington  side,  and  then  they  naturally  go  all  the 
way  over  to  the  Oregon  side  of  the  river,  as  Oregon  claims  as  her  territory 
all  the  water  over  to  the  Washington  side,  and  Washington  claims  as  her 
territory  all  of  the  water  of  the  river  over  to   the  Oregon   side. 

In  Idaho,  they  naturally  have  jurisdiction  over  everything  they  can  get 
hold  of,  and  it  is  now  a  question  whether  a  statute  framed  in  Oregon  under 
those  circumstances  holds  unless  it  is  also  accepted  in  Washington,  and 
nobody  knows  what  the  law  is,  and  the  State  has  not  any  friends. 

What  I  want  to  say  is  this:  The  principle  underlying,  say  our  Interstate 
Commerce  Bill,  is  generally  approved;  the  principle  underlying  our  Weather 
Bureau  Service  is  approved,  that  is,  that  no  single  state  would  know  anything 
about  the  weather  if  it  had  a  state  weather  service  and  could  not  communicate 
with  the  weather  bureaus  of  other  states.  But,  by  communicating  with  the 
weather  bureaus  of  other  states,  the  state  of  Kansas,  for  instance,  knows  when 
a  blizzard  is  due  in  Kansas,  so  with  the  other  states,  the  weather  starting 
in  California  and  Oregon.  Nobody  gainsays  anything  of  that  kind.  For  the 
same  reason  that  we  have  the  Interstate  Commerce  law,  for  the  same  reason 
that  we  have  the  Weather  Bureau  Service,  the  United  States  should  have  a 
Bureau  of  Pish  Protection,  which  should  guard  the  fishes  in  those  waters  that 
belong  to  the  rivers  of  the  Northwest.  It  would  be  very  simple  if  the  United 
States  Government  should  say  that  there  should  be  no  fishing  on  certain  days 
of  the  week,  and  no  fishing  in  certain  months,  and  then  let  the  statutes  of 
Washington  and  Oregon  be  what  they  pleased.  In  that  way,  there  could  be 
enough  fishes  sent  up  the  Columbia  River  to  insure  the  perennial  continuation 
of  the  tremendous  industry  of  that  river,  which  was  at  one  time  the  most 
valuable  river  in  all  the  world,  and  it  ought  to  yield  annually  a  million  dollars' 
worth  of  fish,  as  Alaska  has  yielded  upwards  of  six  million,  very  nearly  for 
every  year — as   much  as   we  paid   for  the   whole   country.     The   same   law   that 


iss  REPORT    OF    PROCEEDINGS 

applies  to  one  bank  of  the  Columbia  River,  should  be  applied  upon  the  other 
bank  of  the  river,  because  the  fish  go  from  one  side  to  the  other,  and  they 
can  not  be  handled  by  any  one  state.  There  should,  therefore,  be  a  statute 
passed  under  which  the  Government  should  have  the  general  control  of  the 
propagation  and  protection  of  fish  in  the  Columbia  River,  in  Lake  Michigan, 
in  the  Ohio  River,  the  Mississippi  River,  and  the  Potomac  River,  for  the  fishes 
of  all  those  regions  have  been  virtually  destroyed  by  the  fact  that  you  can 
never  get  the  legislatures  of  two  states  to  pass  identical  statutes,  so  as  to 
keep  the  same  protection  for  the  fishes.  It  is  something  that  we  very  much 
need. 

That  is  the  point  that  I  want  to  bring  before  you — first,  the  wisdom  of 
a  statute  as  already  indicated,  and  of  the  treaty  by  which  we  have  united 
with  Great  Britain  for  the  general  preservation  of  the  fishes  of  the  boundary 
waters,  and  then,  second,  the  principle  that  the  United  States  Government, 
through  its  Bureau  of  Fisheries,  ought  to  frame  and  adopt  statutes  that  shall 
protect  the  fishes,  in  so  far  as  the  several  states  have  not  an  adequate  jurisdic- 
tion.     (Applause.) 

By  J.  J.  Gosper,  of  Los  Angeles: 

May  I  be  permitted  to  ask  Mr.  Jordan  to  say  a  word  about  the  carp, 
its  habits  and  its  value?    Just  a  word,  Professor,  if  you  please. 

Dr.    Jordan: 

The  carp  lives  in  sluggish  water,  water  that  does  not  run  fast.  It  lives 
just  like  a  pig,  and  roots  up  the  ground  and  feeds  on  almost  anything,  pref- 
erably live  plants.  It  is  generally  said  that  it  eats  the  spawn  of  other 
fishes.  At  Port  Clinton,  Ohio,  the  Bureau  of  Fisheries  made  an  investigation 
of  this,  and  found  scarcely  ever  any  spawn,  but  that  they  live  mostly  on 
vegetation  and  what  they  can  root  up  and  get  in  that  way.  They  are  a  coarse 
fish  and  the  flesh  is  rather  good  if  kept  in  good  water,  but  it  generally  tastes 
of  mud.  For  all  that,  carp  have  met  in  the  East  with  an  enormous  sale  at 
low  prices.  The  Illinois  River  now  yields  thousands  of  tons  of  carp  which 
are  sent  to  New  York  and  which  are  eaten  there  by  poor  people.  The  carp  has 
no  friends.  I  don't  like  to  eat  it,  I  never  like  to  see  it  around.  I  hate  to  see 
it  eating  up  the  food  of  the  wild  ducks,  I  hate  to  see  it  making  the  entire 
bottom  of  a  lake,  like  our  Clear  Lake  in  California,  muddy,  and  I  think  it 
was  a  great  mistake  to  introduce  it  into  California.  But,  for  all  that,  in  the 
sluggish  bayous  that  exist  along  Lake  Erie  and  Lake  Ontario,  and  along  the 
Illinois,  Ohio,  and  Mississippi  rivers,  it  has  proven  itself  of  enormous  financial 
value.  I  saw  a  warehouse  vat  as  big  as  this  room  filled  with  frozen  carp  at 
Port  Clinton,  that  they  were  getting  ready  to  ship  to  the  poor  people  of  New 
York.  So  it  has  filled  a  place  that  no  other  fish  fills.  It  is  a  cheap  and  rather 
poor  fish,  but  one  that  can  always  be  counted  upon,  one  that  is  always  ready 
to  be  caught,  and  has  a  financial  value.  But,  gentlemen,  don't  make  the  mis- 
take of  putting  them  into  your  clear  waters.  Do  not  repeat  the  great  blunder 
that  the  Bureau  of  Fisheries  made  when,  about  1878,  they  brought  them  over 
here  and  turned  them  loose.  But  to  balance  that,  they  brought  at  the  same 
time  the  shad  and  striped  bass,  and  those  two  have  been  tremendously 
successful  on  this  Coast.  They  have  found  the  waters  here  better  adapted  for 
their  own  purposes  than  the  waters  in  which  they  were  actually  mated. 
(Applause.) 

By  Mr.  Edward  Berwick,  of  California: 

Mr.  Chairman:  I  rise  to  a  point  of  personal  privilege.  I  believe  this 
Congress,  if  it  stands  for  anything,  stands  for  a  fair  shake  and  a  square 
deal.  On  your  list  of  subjects  for  this  meeting  you  have  the  subject  of  the 
"Parcels  Post."  I  came  here  with  intent  to  set  forth  my  views  on  the 
parcels  post  as  being  the  President  of  the  Postal  Progress  League  of  Cali- 
fornia. I  wrote  to  your  Secretary  and  President,  asking  a  place  on  your 
platform.  By  what  I  call  some  very  sharp  parliamentary  practice,  my 
resolution  has  been  negatived  by  the  Committee  on  Resolutions.  I  ask, 
sir,  for  a  time  now  to  bring  my  resolution  before  the  house  and  take  its 
opinion  thereupon.  I  would  say  this,  sir,  in  the  morning  there  is  no  house 
present,  and  I  want  a  vote  from  the  floor  of  the  house  here.  It  is  no  use 
voting  when  six  or  eight  persons  are  here,  and  taking  that  as  the  opinion  of 
this  Congress.  I  will  be  exceedingly  brief,  sir,  if  you  will  permit  me  to  put 
that  now. 


TRANS-MISSISSIPPI    COMMERCIAL    CONGRESS  189 

By   President   Loveland: 

Are  you  through,  Mr.  Berwick,  for  the  moment? 

By    Mr.    Berwick: 

Yes. 

By   President   Loveland: 

Gentlemen  of  the  Congress:  In  reply  to  Mr.  Berwick,  permit  me  to 
say  this:  The  question  was  before  the  Committee  on  Resolutions;  it  was 
referred  to  a  sub-committee,  which,  in  its  wisdom,  voted  against  the  parcels 
post.  It  was  brought  before  the  general  Committee  on  Resolutions,  and  I 
was 'present  a  portion  of  the  time  when  the  matter  was  thoroughly  threshed 
out,  and  I  assure  you  upon  my  honor  as  a  gentleman  that  I  saw  no  evidence 
of  sharp  practice,  unless,  Mr.  Berwick,  it  came  from  the  proponents  of  the 
resolution,  and  that  was  this:  Your  Secretary  sat  there  and  listened  to  all 
of  the  proceedings,  and  said  nothing  about  there  being  no  quorum  until  you 
had  been  voted  down,  and  then,  as  a  matter  of  sharp  practice,  he  called 
your  attention  to  the  fact  that  there  was  no  quorum.  I  want  to  say  to  the 
gentlemen  of  this  Congress,  this  question  will  be  referred  to  the  Congress 
tomorrow  morning  when  the  Committee  on  Resolutions  makes  its  report. 
It  is  a  bit  of  "sharp  practice"  for  this  gentleman  to  appear  here  at  this  hour 
when  it  was  announced  that  the  Committee  on  Resolutions  would  report 
tomorrow  morning  at  10  o'clock.  I  consider  it  a  bit  of  "sharp  practice,"  Mr. 
Berwick,  for  you  to  appear  at  this  time,  when  many  of  the  delegates  are 
enjoying  the  hospitality  of  the  citizens  of  this  city  and  State,  and  I  hope 
the  Congress  will  stand  by  me  in  seeing  that  this  matter  is  brought  up' 
tomorrow  morning  at  10  o'clock,  when  the  Committee  on  Resolutions  makes 
its  report. 

By  Mr.  Berwick: 

Will  you  pardon  me  for  correcting  one  statement  that  you  have  made? 

By   President   Loveland: 
Yes,  sir. 

By   Mr.  Berwick: 

Our  league  had  no  secretary  in  that  convention. 

By   President   Loveland: 

The  Secretary  of  the  Committee  on  Resolutions  was  the  man  who  called 
attention  to  the  fact  that  you  had  no  quorum,  and  did  not  do  it  until  after 
you  saw  that  you  were  voted  down. 

By  Mr.  Berwick: 

He  did  not  call  my  attention  to  it,  but  the  attention  of  the  chair. 

By  President   Loveland: 

You  were  a  member  of  that  committee,  as  I  understand  it. 

By  Mr.  Berwick: 

If  you  were  not  there,  may  I  tell  you  what  transpired,  sir? 

By  President   Loveland: 

"What  is  the  pleasure  of  the  house?  Will  you  have  this  matter  now,  or 
tomorrow  morning,  when  it  has  been  announced? 

By  Mr.  Geo.  W.  Burton,  of  Los  Angeles: 

I  move,  Mr.  Chairman,  that  the  consideration  of  the  question  be  post- 
poned until  tomorrow.   If  it  is  to  be  put  to  a  vote,  it  ought  not  to  be  put  to  a 


190  REPORT    OF    PROCEEDINGS 

vote  until  it  is  thoroughly  debated  and  threshed  out.  It  is  too  late  to  do 
that  now.  My  motion  is  that  the  whole  subject  be  postponed  until  the  report 
of  the  Committee  on  Resolutions  at  the  proper  time  tomorrow,  when  this 
subject  will  come  up  with  the  others. 

By   President   Loveland: 

Is  there  a  second  to  the  motion? 

(The  motion  was  duly  seconded,  and  prevailed.) 

By   President   Loveland: 

Gentlemen  of  the  Congress,  our  Secretary  has  a  telegram  from  the 
Chamber  of  Commerce  of  Venice,  which,  if  there  is  no  objection,  may  how 
be  read  to  the  Congress. 

By  Secretary  Francis: 

The  telegram  is  as  follows: 

Venice,  Cal.,  October  9.  1908. 
Honorable   J.    B.    Case, 

President   of  Trans-Mississippi    Commercial   Congress, 
Dreamland    Pavilion.    San    Francisco,    Cal. 

To  recover  America's  shipping-  on  the  free  ocean  the  chains  now  shackling 
it  must  be  struck  off.  Local,  state,  county  and  city  taxes  in  California  on 
ships  are  not  imposed  by  other  nations.  These  taxes  are  unjust  and  a  deadly 
handicap  and  must  be  removed.  Business  on  the  free  ocean  will  not  support 
trust  monopoly;  therefore  the  prohibition  of  Americans  from  registering 
foreign  built  ships  under  our  flag  places  ocean  shipping  under  the  heel  of 
great  trusts  and  kills  the  business.  Classing  ships  with  obscene  literature 
in  the  only  absolute  prohibition  against  importations  is  a  disgrace  to  decency, 
intelligence  and  patriotism.  Strike  off  the  fetters.  We  oppose  taxes  on  all 
(or  the  benefit  of  any.  The  public  power  to  tax  is  the  power  of  life  or  death. 
It  can  only  be  rightly  used  for  a  strict  and  direct  public  good.  To  use  this 
tremendous  power  over  the  people  to  subsidize  any  set  of  men  or  interest  is 
robbery  under  the  form  of  law.  Such  a  gross  wrong  can  never  build  up  a 
sound  industry  on  the  free  ocean.  If  the  Nation  is  to  support  ocean  shipping 
the  Nation  must  own  and  operate  the  ships.  In  a  fair  and  fr<  e  field  America 
has  nothing  to  fear  from  any.  Give  American  seamen  liberty  and  our  flag  will 
rule  the  sea. 

VENICE   CHAMBER    OF   COMMERCE, 

By  Abbott  Kinney. 
By   President   Loveland: 

The  telegram  will  be  referred  to  the  Committee  on  Resolutions. 

Ladies  and  Gentlemen  of  the  Congress:  Dr.  Jordan  is  an  extremely  mod- 
est man.  With  the  opportunity  to  tell  us  a  fish  story,  he  has  been  most 
modest.  Hut  1  believe  that  you  will  agree  with  me  that  he  has  told  us  a 
most  interesting  story  and  a  message  which  we  have  been  glad  to  hear. 

The  next  speaker  will  address  you  on  a  subject  that  we  are  all  inter- 
ested in.  As  citizens,  we  all  may  and  probably  do  know  a  little  about  it. 
Yet  it  is  an  interesting  matter  to  us  three  times  a  day.  The  subject  is  "The 
Creamery  and  Dairy  Interests  of  the  Trans-Mississippi  Section."  I  remem- 
ber when,  as  a  boy,  back  in  one  of  the  northern  counties  of  New  York,  I 
had  to  run  an  up-and-down  churn,  churning  the  cream  from  the  milk  of 
three  cows,  about  twice  a  week,  and  I  thought  I  knew  more  than  I  needed 
to  know  about  the  butter  business.  (Laughter.)  I  remember  one  time,  it 
comes  before  me  vividly,  I  pleaded  that  I  was  sick  and  could  not  use  the 
churn.  My  mother  made  me  go  to  bed,  and  my  brother  did  the  churning,  and 
then  went  out  and  played  ball.  After  that  I  did  not  try  to  enlarge  upon  my 
understanding  of  the  dairy  business. 

I  am  going  to  introduce  to  you  Mr.  W.  F.  Jensen,  an  expert  in  the 
creamery  and  dairy  business,  who  will  address  you  upon  that  subject.  Gen- 
tlemen, Mr.  Jensen,  of  I'tah. 

At  this  point  Vice-President  Col.  W.  F.  1  laker,  of  Iowa,  assumed  the 
chair. 


TRANS-MISSISSIPPI    COMMERCIAL    CONGRESS  191 

THE    CREAMERY    AND    DAIRY    INTERESTS    OF    THE    TRANS-MISSISSIPPI 

SECTION. 
E?-    W.    F.    Jensen,    of    Utah. 
By   Mr.  Jensen,  of   Salt   Lake  City. 

Fellow    Delegates    of    the    Trans-Mississippi    Commercial    Congress: 

I  am  requested  to  read  you  a  paper  on  the  dairy  and  creamery  industry. 
I  do  this  with  pleasure  because  it  is  an  industry  in  which  I  have  spent  all  of 
my  active  years  and  of  which  I  am  very  proud.  Few  of  you  perhaps  realize 
the  magnitude  of  this  branch  of  agriculture  in  the  United  States.  I  will  give 
you  a  few  figures  taken  from  statistics,  so  that  you  will  have  an  idea  as  to  its 
importance. 

There  are  more  than  twenty-one  million  cows  milked  in  the  United  States 
every  day.  Each  gives  an  average  of  3,500  pounds  of  milk  a  year,  making  the 
annual  output  of  this  country  about  seventy-five  billion  pounds  of  milk.  The 
wholesale  value  of  dairy  products  in  the  United  States  is  conservatively 
estimated  worth  more  than  eight  hundred  million  dollars.  It  is  estimated  that 
there  are  three  million  six  hundred  thousand  farms  where  some  dairying  is 
done.  About- thirty  million  people  are  employed,  to  a  greater  or  lesser  extent, 
in  handling  dairy  products,  and  there  are  one  billion  two  hundred  million 
pounds  of  butter  produced  in  the  United  States  annually,  aside  from  the  milk 
and  cream  for  table  use,  and  the  milk  that  goes  into  cheese,  condensed  milk 
and  other  products. 

The  dairy  products  of  the  United  States  are  more  valuable  than  any 
crop  except  corn,  and  they  are  equal  to  one-third  the  value  of  all  farm 
products. 

For  many  years  we  have  exported  great  quantities  of  cheese  to  European 
countries.  We  are  also  exporting  some  butter,  but  the  greater  part  of  this 
product  is  required  for  home  consumption.  However,  in  late  years  considerable 
butter  exporting  is  developing  from  the  Pacific  Coast  cities.  This  butter  is  go- 
ing to  the  Orient  and  Central  and  South  American  countries.  This  export  busi- 
ness is  growing.  We  are  learning  to  pack  the  butter  in  hermetically  sealed 
cans,  which  will  stand  the  effect  of  the  tropical  heat  suitable  to  the  countries  in 
which  it  is  sold,  and  is  gradually  displacing  butter  that  heretofore  has  been 
furnished  by  European  countries. 

In  this  country  we  have  wheat  farms  of  tremendous  size.  Many  of  our 
citizens  are  engaged  in  the  raising  of  wheat,  corn,  livestock,  cotton  and 
tobacco  on  a  very  large  scale,  but  the  dairy  industry  is  essentially  a  business 
of  the  small  farmer.  The  dairy  business  is  the  most  scientific  branch  of 
agriculture.  It  requires  more  knowledge  and  more  care  to  engage  profitably 
in   the   dairy   business   than    it   does   in  any   other   branch   of  agriculture. 

The  cow  is  the  farmer's  best  friend.  She  will  enjoy  the  richest  of  food, 
but  she  will  also  exist  on  scant  fare.  Through  the  ups  and  downs,  through 
the  drouth,  and  in  time  of  need  she  has  fed  and  clothed  the  farmer  and  those 
depending  on  him.  She  has  paid  the  taxes  and  the  interest  on  the  mortgage. 
When  crops  failed  she  has  found  her  food  along  the  roadsides,  among  the 
shrubs  on  the  hills,  and  from  the  fodder  that  would  be  good  for  no  other 
purpose. 

From  the  time  our  forefathers  settled  New  England  she  has  followed 
the  pioneers  in  the  settlement  of  our  great  country  ever  extending  westward. 
She  has  been  the  first  means  of  maintaining  the  hardy  pioneer  in  the  wilder- 
ness, and  today  she  also  represents  the  highest  type  of  civilization  in  farming 
operation. 

So  far  in  this  great  country  we  have  existed  and  accumulated  wealth  on  the 
great  riches  and  fertility  stored  in  our  soil  during  countless  ages;  but  we 
begin  to  realize  that  the  time  is  coming  when  we  must  begin  to  save  this 
inherited  fertility  and  when  we  must  return  to  the  soil  some  of  the  fertility 
that  is  removed  by  annual  crops.  When  the  farmer  grows,  sells  and  removes 
from  his  land  a  ton  of  wheat  worth  approximately  $30,  he  has  used  in  the 
growing  of  his  wheat  $7  worth  of  native  fertility.  The  farmer  that  sells  a 
ton  of  butter  worth  $500,  by  returning  the  manure  to  the  soil,  has  used  only 
70  cents  worth  of  the  native  fertility.  This  is  why  the  dairy  industry  is 
growing  year  after  year,  and  entering  fields  that  have  been  impoverished  by 
continued   grain    raising. 

Dairying  is  followed  by  the  raising  of  clover,  alfalfa,  and  grasses  that  do 
not  impoverish  the  soil,  but  on  the  contrary  in  the  course  of  time  enrich  the 
land  and  increase  its  value.  Farmers  are  beginning  to  realize  more  and  more 
that  it  is  poor  economy  to  raise  a  crop  of  grain  year  after  year.  They  see 
the  necessity  of  giving  the  land  a  rest.  They  are  introducing  a  system  of 
rotation,  changing  from  the  raising  of  grain  to  the  raising  of  alfalfa,  clover 
and  other  plants  which  will  clear  the  fields  of  weeds  and  give  the  soil  a  much 
needed  rest.  The  introduction  of  alfalfa  through  the  Trans-Mississippi  terri- 
tory   gave    a    great    boost    to    the    dairy    industry    west    of    the    Missouri    River 


192  REPORT    OF    PROCEEDINGS 

wherever  it  can  be  successfully  grown.  The  alfalfa  plant  contains  the  elements 
that  enter  into  milk  production  and,  considering  the  raising  of  alfalfa  makes 
no  drain  whatever  on  the  native  fertility  of  the  soil,  it  is  today  considered 
the  greatest   wealth   producer  of  all   crops  grown    west   of  the   Missouri   River. 

There  is  no  state  or  territory  in  this  great  Trans-Mississippi  country 
where  dairying  can  not  be  done.  It  is,  however,  a  business  more  fitted  for 
the  cooler  and  temperate  climates,  although  of  late  years  it  has  spread  over 
and  taken  a  hold  over  the  entire  Trans-Mississippi  territory,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  Louisiana  and  to  a  small  extent  only  in  Arkansas  and  Texas.  If 
alfalfa  can  be  successfully  raised  in  these  Southern  States.  I  have  no  doubt 
they  will  also  engage  in  the  dairying  business  on  a  much  larger  scale  than 
they  are   doing  at   the  present   time. 

The  manufacture  of  cheese  and  condensed  milk  is  not  very  extensive  and 
is  confined  to  a  few  scattered  points.  In  the  Trans-Mississippi  territory  the 
production  and  manufacture  of  butter  represents  95  per  cent  of  the  dairy 
products  sold.  The  dairy  products  from  states  east  of  the  Mississippi  River, 
with  a  few  exceptions,  are  required  more  and  more  for  the  larger  cities. 
We  will  see  the  time  when  75  per  cent  of  the  milk  and  cream  produced  east 
of  the  Mississippi  River  will  be  used  exclusively  in  the  large .  cities,  in  the 
way  of  milk  and  cream  for  table  use  and  ice  cream. 

The  continuous  growth  of  manufacturing  districts  of  large  cities  from 
Chicago  east  will  demand  milk  and  cream  to  the  exclusion  of  butter,  and 
even  now  the  country  is  depending  on  the  Trans-Mississippi  territory  for  the 
greater  part  of  its  butter  supply,  and  this  branch  of  the  dairy  industry  is 
most  vital   to   the   territory   this   Congress   represents. 

A  few  years  back  there  was  but  little  butter  produced  wTest  of  the 
Missouri  River,  but  at  the  present  time  the  butter  production  is  increasing 
very  fast  over  the  entire  western  continent.  In  some  of  the  states,  like 
Minnesota  and  other  sections  where  the  soil  has  become  exhausted  through 
continuous  grain  raising,  the  dairy  business  has  indeed  become  a  necessity. 
It  is  practiced  more  and  more  in  the  corn  section  and  wheat  section  east 
of  tli e  Rocky  Mountains,  in  the  fertile  valleys  of  Utah,  in  the  irrigated  section 
of  Idaho,  and  even  in  New  Mexico,  Arizona,  Nevada  and  Montana.  Wherever 
alfalfa  can  be  raised  the  production  of  butter  is  found  to  be  one  of  the  most 
profitable  industries  in  which  a  farmer  can  engage.  On  the  Pacific  Coast  the 
production  of  butter  has  grown  very  fast.  I  believe  that  the  value  of  dairy 
products  in  California  alone  is  close  to  twenty  million  dollars  annually; 
somewhat   less  in  Oregon  and  Washington. 

At  first  butter  was  made  entirely  on  the  farm,  by  the  good  housewife, 
but  in  time  the  demand  for  large  quantities  of  uniform  butter  became  greater, 
and  in  sections  where  many  farmers  living  in  the  same  community  took  an 
active  interest  in  the  dairy  business,  they  found  it  to  their  intereets  to 
associate  together  and  operate  modern  butter-making  plants.  They  found 
that  they  could  make  a  uniform  and  a  higher  quality  butter  and  market  it 
to  better  advantage,  than  where  the  butter  was  made  on  the  farm  under 
various  conditions  with  very  irregular  results,  and  besides  save  a  lot  of 
work    for   the   women   folks. 

The  system  of  local  creameries  spread  rapidly  in  the  nineties  over  the 
entire  country.  With  a  few  exceptions,  however,  it  was  not  found  generally 
satisfactory  in  the  Trans-Mississippi  territory  on  account  of  the  sparsely 
settled  country  and  not  enough  volume  in  any  one  community  to  maintain 
a  local  creamery  on  a  reasonable  basis  of  expense.  With  few  exceptions,  the 
local  creamery  made  a  miserable  failure  in  all  of  the  Trans-Mississippi 
territory,  not  including  Minnesota  and  the  northern  half  of  Iowa  and  perhaps 
large  sections  in  California.  The  reason  of  this  failure  was  on  account  of 
the  farmers  living  so  wide  apart  that  they  could  not  successfully  associate 
in   creamery   enterprise. 

Beginning  about  1898  a  new  system  was  introduced  which  has  proven 
a  wonderful  success.  By  that  time  the  hand  separator  had  been  invented 
and  was  put  on  the  market  at  a  price  so  that  every  farmer  could  afford  to 
buy  one.  With  the  hand  separator  on  his  farm,  the  farmer  could  skim  his 
own  milk.  He  had  fresh  skim  milk  to  feed  his  livestock  and  he  had  the 
concentrated  product  of  cream,  which  he  could  ship  for  a  long  distance.  In 
this  manner  large  creamery  plants  came  into  existence  in  all  railroad  centers, 
mostly  in  the  large  cities,  and  this  so-called  centralizing  system  of  conducting 
creameries  is  now  prevailing  in  the  greater  part  of  the  Trans-Mississippi 
territory. 

There  are  large  creameries  today  with  a  daily  output  of  from  2,000  to 
40,000  pounds  of  butter — splendidly  equipped  factories  with  experts  in  all 
departments.  In  Omaha  for  instance,  there  are  today  eight  large  creameries 
doing  an  annual  business  of  fifteen  million  dollars.  During  all  the  years  that 
the  butter  industry  has  grown  and  developed,  there  have  been  expressions 
of  fear  that  some  day  we  might  have  an  overproduction.     Many  farmers  have 


TRANS-MISSISSIPPI    COMMERCIAL    CONGRESS  193 

hesitated  to  expend  money  for  barns  and  other  improvements,  thinking  that 
at  some  future  time  over-production  would  set  in  and  values  become  lower 
and  dairying-  unprofitable.  This  thought  has  been  induced  naturally  by  the 
experience  in  other  branches  of  agriculture,  and  the  tremendous  growth  of 
the   dairy   industry   would   in   itself   suggest    this   idea. 

However,  on  the  contrary,  the  value  of  butter  and  other  dairy  products 
is  continually  advancing.  The  consuming  public  is  realizing  every  day  that 
in  butter  and  cheese  they  have  the  most  healthful  food.  Butter  especially 
forms  the  diet  of  the  very  young  and  the  very  old.  It  is  on  every  table  and, 
considering  its  nourishment,  it  is  even  on  the  present  basis  cheaper  than 
meat    and    other    products. 

Only  once  has  the  butter  industry  been  seriously  threatened — some  eight 
or  ten  years  ago  when  the  manufacture  and  sale  of  oleomargarine  were 
carried  on  extensively  and  this  substitute  for  butter  sold  everywhere  for 
the  genuine  product.  We  were  told  at  that  time  by  the  great  packers  and 
by  the  great  cattle  raisers  through  the  National  Live  Stock  Association  that 
if  the  manufacture  and  sale  of  oleomargarine  were  stopped  or  confined  to  its 
own  merits,  it  would  seriously  affect  the  cattle  industry  and  almost  destroy  the 
same.  I  am  glad  to  say,  however,  that  since  then  Congress  has  passed  a  very 
good  law  which  compels  butter  substitutes  to  be  sold  for  what  they  are. 
It  has  helped  the  dairy  industry  and  it  has  not  hurt  the  cattle  industry,  and 
I  am  glad  to  say  that  representatives  of  the  great  fat  cattle  industry  and 
the    dairy    industry    can    associate    on    most    friendly    terms. 

I  have  stated  before  that  the  dairy  industry  requires  knowledge  and 
care.  This  principle  has  been  recognized  by  most  of  the  states.  Great 
dairy  schools  have  been  established.  Farmers'  institutes  are  being  held  by 
the  thousands.  Wise  legislators  recognize  that  they  must  provide  means 
for  education  and  advancement  of  the  dairy  farmer  and  the  industry  that  is 
so  ideal  for  this  Western  country  producing  daily  wealth  without  exhausting 
the   resources   stored   through   thousands   of  years   in  our  soil. 

In  Utah,  where  I  live,  we  are  doing  a  great  deal  to  build  up  our  dairy 
industry,  but  we  will  do  more  in  the  future  than  we  have  done  in  the  past. 
We  have  some  of  the  richest  valleys  in  Utah  and  Idaho,  and  through  irrigation 
we  raise  great  crops  of  alfalfa.  We  are  learning  the  system  of  dry  farming 
and  our  hills,  heretofore  barren,  are  raising  splendid  crops  of  wheat  and 
barley.  With  the  successful  raising  of  grain  added  to  our  other  resources, 
we  will  not  alone  produce  immense  quantities  of  butter  annually,  but  we 
will  produce  hogs  and  we  will  produce  cattle  that  can  be  fattened  in  our 
State  or  shipped  to  the  great  corn  sections.  We  have  the  healthiest  climate  in 
the  world,  not  alone  for  men,  but  also  for  beast.  We  are  securing  our  share 
of  the  great  work  of  reclamation,  which  will  in  time  make  the  great  inter- 
mountain  section  a  wonder  of  productiveness,  surpassing  all  sections  in  the 
world.  If  there  is  anything  we  need,  it  is  knowledge  and  information  as  to 
the  best  system  and   methods  particularly   fitted   to  our  section. 

If  I  can  leave  with  this  Congress  the  impression  that  the  cause  of  agri- 
cultural science  and  the  spread  of  useful  knowledge  must  be  fostered  by  the 
various  states  and  also  the  Federal  Government,  and  that  the  preservation  of 
our  natural  resources  should  include  not  alone  our  forests  and  our  mines, 
but  also  the  native  fertility  stored  in  our  soil,  then  I  am  well  repaid.   (Applause.) 

By   Vice-President   Baker: 

I  would  announce  that  resolutions  can  be  received  up  to  10  o'clock 
tomorrow  morning,  but  not  after  that,  as  the  Committee  on  Resolutions  will 
report  soon  thereafter.  Under  our  rule,  anyone  who  desires  to  discuss  the 
subject  presented  has  the  right  to  avail  himself  of  that  privilege  for  three 
minutes.  Hearing  none,  I  will  announce  that  there  will  be  a  very  inter- 
esting address  this  evening  by  Senator  Harris,  of  Galveston,  Texas,  and  we 
would  like  to  see  the  house  filled  to  hear  this  prominent  gentleman. 

By  Secretary  Francis: 

The  following  resolution  has  been  handed  to  me,  Mr.  Chairman,  by  Sen- 
ator Harris,  of  Texas: 

GULF     AND     COAST    HARBORS. 

RESOLVED,  That  we  favor  adequate  appropriations  and  the  continuing 
contracts  by  the  several  governments  for  increasing  the  number  and  enlarging 
the  capacity  of  our  harbors  on  the  Pacific  Ocean  and  the  Gulf  of  Mexico. 

By   Vice-President   Baker: 

The  resolution  will  take  the  usual  course. 

If  there  is  no  objection,  the  Congress  will  now  be  in  recess  until  S 
o'clock  this   evening. 


ELEVENTH  SESSION 


Friday   Evening,   October  9th,   1908. 
By  Past  President  John  Henry  Smith: 

The  Congress  will  be  in  order.  The  people  will  please  sit  up  around 
close  and  he  happy.  We  will  now  hear  from  Mr.  W.  H.  Richardson,  of 
Oregon. 

VISION    OF    THE    FUTURE. 
By  Mr.  AY.   H.   Richardson,   Rosehurg: 

Mr.  Chairman.  Ladies  and  Gentlemen:  I  have  been  called  upon  at  this  time 
to  fill  in  before  the  regular  discussion  of  the  evening-  comes  up.  If  I  fail  to 
make  my  remarks  interesting  it  is  because  the  excitement  of  the  moment  has 
caused  all  my  blood  to  rush  to  my  head  and  give  me  cold  feet.  If  my  voice 
can  not  be  heard  it  is  because  my  mouth  is  not  large  enough  to  be  used  as 
a  megaphone,  nor  your  ears  large  enough  for  trumpets.  As  I  entered  the 
hall  this  evening  a  young  man  said  to  me,  "Yes,  this  is  the  place;  this  is  the 
place  all  right;  this  is  the  place  where  they  are  having  a  baby  show."  There 
is  one  prize-winner  right  up  at  the  secretary's  table  now.  Look  at  his  shiny 
head. 

I  speak  principally  to  those  who  are  from  the  East,  from  the  interior 
states. 

After  your  return  home,  if  through  the  mysterious  processes  of  nature 
you  some  day  shall  see  a  beautiful  vision  in  the  western  sky  like  unto  the 
promised  Holy  City,  with  its  glistening  walls  and  golden  portals,  view  it  in 
wondering  delight — a  mirage  of  the  New  San  Francisco  If  your  vision  is 
of  a  city  of  beautiful  homes,  garlanded  with  roses  and  set  in  the  Garden  of 
Eden,  tell  your  friends  it  is  of  Portland.  If  it  be  of  a  clear  crystal  inland 
sea  with  emerald  borders,  on  its  eastern  shore  a  giant — in  his  left  hand  a 
key  to  the  world  beyond  the  sea,  in  his  right  a  massive  cornucopia  running 
over  with  nuggets  of  precious  gold — the  vision  is  of  Seattle.  If,  perchance. 
Nature,  out  of  the  bountifulness  of  her  generosity  will  accord  all  three  a 
place  simultaneously  on  the  high  canopy  of  the  heavens,  may  the  vision  be 
that  of  three  stalwart  sons  of  the  West,  each  with  an  olive  wreath  upon  his 
brow,  holding  in  his  left  hand  the  square  and  compass,  following  the  pre- 
cepts of  the  Great  Architect,  and  in  his  right  a  hammer,  all  grouped  about 
an  anvil  engaged  in  welding  three  golden  links  into  a  triple  seal  of  Friend- 
ship,  Love  and   Truth. 

We  of  the  Far  West  have  visions.  Far  to  the  eastward  we  see  the  leech- 
ing octopus  stretching  its  reeking  tentacles  westward  into  the  bosom  of  our 
virgin  treasures.  To  the  southward,  where  once  reigned  a  desolation  that 
marked  the  unsurpassed  valor  of  the  heroes  of  the  Lost  Cause,  we  see  a  land 
blossoming  like  the  rose  and  flourishing  like  a  green  bay  tree,  the  lami 
where  the  traditional  hospitality  of  the  Huguenot  still  prevails.  Oh,  a  beauti- 
ful  vision. 

"I   sometimes  think  there  never  blows  so  red 
The   rose  as   where  some  buried   Caesar  ble<l." 

To  the  northward  upon  the  towering  of  Chicago's  great  mail-order 
houses  we  see  a  gigantic  hungry  wolf,  one  foot  outstretched  resting  on  St. 
Louis,  howling  for  a  parcels  post,  seeking  whom  he  may  devour.  Yea.  his 
echoes  have  been  heard  even  here  through  the  gray  sagebrush  of  the  Western 
plains. 

We  sec,  high  up  in  the  field  of  azure,  a  great  throbbing  heart  of  gold 
thrilled  with  its  patriotic  and.  civic  pride.  Tall,  stately  sun-crowned  Denver, 
who  gets  her  "Top  of  the  morning"  from  the  Mayflowers'  peaceful  haven,  and 
her    last    sweet    goodnight    kiss    through    the    Golden    Gate 

Above  all,  upon  a  pedestal,  not  made  of  cold,  gray  stones,  but  of  the  lov- 
ing hearts  of  his  fellow  citizens,  we  see  that  matchless  fighter  for  right — 
that  peerless  champion  of  peace- — Theodore  Roosevelt. 

The  West  lias  a  message  for  the  East — a  message  for  the  sons  and 
daughters  of  the  great  captains  of  industry  and  finance: 

If  the  wealthy  heiress  of  the  East  will  wed  the  clear  brain  and  brawny 
sinew  and  the  great  generous  heart  of  the  West  there  will  come  a  generation 
of  noble  men  and  women,  which  will  put  the  deep  blush  of  shame  on  the 
fair  white  brow  of  the   unhappy   childless  princess. 

God  pity  the  judgment  of  the  American  girl,  rich  or  poor,  who  barters 
her   star-spangled   crown    for   the   debauched   sloughings    of   European    royalty. 


TRANS-MISSISSIPPI    COMMERCIAL    CONGRESS  195 

Let  us  extend  a  welcome  to  the  young  man  of  the  East.  He,  who  in- 
herits his  father's  hard-earned  millions;  let  him  show  that  he  is  worthy  of 
his  noble  sire  who  wrought  his  fortune  from  the  crude,  cold  earth.  Let  the 
great,  free,  unexploited  West  give  to  him  the  hand  of  fellowship  and  give  him 
a  chance   to   show  his  mettle  as  a  man  and   an   American. 

That  the  great  Trans-Mississippi  region  will  some  day  be  the  field  of 
this  Nation's  greatest  activity,  no  man  of  good  judgment  will  deny. 

The  wise  statesmen  of  this  Nation,  who  are  acquainted  with  all  the  in- 
tricacies of  world  history  in  the  making,  know  the  great  value  of  the  Pacific 
Slope   and    the   necessity    of    its    development    and    protection. 

Great  events,  as  yet  locked  securely  in  the  rolls  of  the  future,  will,  within 
the  lives  of  men  now  living,  be  recorded  as  history,  bearing  directly  on  the 
development  of  these  Western  States.  . 

Slowly  but  surely  the  awakening  millions  of  the  Orient  are  shaping  our 
commercial  and  industrial  lives.  Let  all  patriotic  Americans  show  faith  in 
the  wisdom  of  our  statesmen  and  in  the  honor  and  integrity  of  our  com- 
mercial leaders  to  so  conduct  themselves  that  all  countries  bordering  on  the 
Pacific  will  give  our  products   the  highest  degree  of  favoritism. 

The  commanding  geographical  position  of  these  Western  States;  their 
unlimited  agricultural,  mineral,  timber  and  power  resources  and  favorable 
climatic  conditions;  their  shipping  facilities  which  will  be  the  very  acme  of 
perfection  upon  the  rehabilitation  of  our  merchant  marine  and  their  marvelous 
opportunities  for  profitable  development,  make  this  an  inviting  field  for  young 
men    of   ambition,    knowledge    and    wealth. 

It  will  take  money,  energy  and  brains  to  transmute  our  mountain  streams 
into  electrical  energy;  to  convert  our  mountains  of  iron,  lead,  copper  and 
other  minerals  into  finished  products;  to  open  up  great  coal  mines;  to  es- 
tablish  great  steamship   lines  and   foreign  markets. 

Western  men  are  without  the  means  to  do  these  things;  therefore,  the 
golden  opportunities  of  the  West  are  knocking  at  the  doors  of  the  already 
exploited  East.  Come,  young  man  of  wealth;  you  who  have  powers  which 
young  environments  hamper,  here  is  a  land  which  offers  greater  opportunities 
than  your  father  knew;  a  place  where  you  can  reach  out  into  the  broad  field 
of  a  new  and  undeveloped  country  and  establish  yourself  at  the  very  foun- 
tain-head of  the  great  stream  of  wealth  which  every  thinking  man  knows  is 
to  be  the  heritage  of  this  great  region.  Oh,  man  of  wealth  and  mature  years, 
bring  your  well-trained  son  to  the  undeveloped  West.  Here  he  can  es- 
tablish himself,  a  MAN  AMONG  MEN. 

By  Secretary  Francis: 

At  this  hour  the  Congress  was  to  be  favored  with  an  address 
upon  "Dry  Farming,"  a  subject  of  very  great  interest  throughout  the  semi- 
arid  region.  The  Dry  Farming  Congress  is  to  convene  in  Wyoming  in  Feb- 
ruary. In  correspondence  with  Secretary  Burns  of  that  organization,  Hon. 
Arthur  R.  Briggs,  of  California,  was  designated  to  present  the  invitation  from 
Wyoming  for  the  delegates  to  this  Congress  to  attend  that  meeting.  Mr. 
Briggs,  who  was  called  from  the  city,  has  been  detained,  and  I  now  ask 
unanimous  consent  to  include  his  remarks  in  the  record.  I  also  make  the 
same  request  with  regard  to  Mr.  Tom  Richardson  of  Portland,  who  was  to 
address  this  Congress,  but  who  also  has  been  called  away. 

By  President  Smith: 

You  have  heard  the  statement  of  the  Secretary.  If  there  is  no  objection 
the  remarks  of  Mr.  Briggs  and  Mr.  Richardson  will  appear  in  the  record. 
There  is  no  objection,  Mr.  Secretary. 

The  paper  of  Mr.  Briggs  follows: 

"WHAT  IS   DRY  FARMING." 
By  Arthur  R.  Brings,  President  of  the  California  State  Board  of  Trade. 
By  Mr.  Briggs  of  San  Francisco: 

Fellow  Delegates  of  the  Trans-Mississippi  Commercial  Congress:  Dry 
farming,  as  it  is  called,  or  as  it  is  known  principally  in  Colorado,  Wyoming 
and  Utah,  has  been  given  publicity  largely  through  the  experiments  and  the 
practical  work  of  Mr.  H.  W.  Campbell  and  the  farming  method  is  generally 
spoken   of   as   the   Campbell   system. 

To  the  uninitiated  this  system  is  supposed  to  be  some  intricate  and  more 
or   less   scientific   method   of  farming  discovered   or   invented  by   Mr.   Campbell, 


196  REPORT    OF    PROCEEDINGS 

whereas,  it  consists  of  an  intensely  practical  and  most  reasonable  method  of 
tilling  land  to  conserve  moisture  and  produce  the  chemical  changes  in  the 
elements  that  go  to  make  plant  food  which  secures  returns  for  labor  be- 
stowed on  it.  The  significance  of  the  term  "dry  farming"  is  likely  to  be 
misunderstood.  That  is,  many  who  have  not  given  special  thought  to  the 
subject  and  therefore  are  not  informed  in  respect  to  it,  seem  to  think  that 
the  Campbell  system  implies  the  possibility  of  producing  profitable  crops  even 
where  the  annual  precipitation  is  very  light  and  irregular.  In  other  words, 
that  through  some  peculiar  process  of  cultivation  or  scientific  juggling  with 
the  soil,  crops  are  grown  by  that  system  of  farming  which  could  not  be 
produced  by  any  other  method  of  cultivation.  At  the  experimental  station 
in  Wyoming,  viz:  at  Cheyenne,  under  the  able  direction  of  J.  H.  Gordon,  quite 
surprising  results  have  been  attained.  Likewise  in  Colorado,  at  Fort  Collins, 
under  the  management  of  Dean  Carlile,  similar  results  have  been  had,  but 
in  both  these  districts  the  annual  rainfall  is  given  at  ten  inches  and  upward. 
In  the  October,  1906,  number  of  the  Century  Magazine,  Mr.  John  L.  Cowen 
described   the   Campbell   system   as   follows: 

"  'The  Campbell  System  of  Dry  Farming'  consists  simply  in  the  exercise  of 
intelligence,  care,  patience  and  tireless  industry.  It  differs  in  details  from 
the  'good  farming'  methods  practiced  and  taught  at  the  various  agricultural 
experiment   stations,   but   the   underlying  principles  are   the   same. 

"The  principles  are  two  in  number.  First,  to  keep  the  surface  of  the 
land  under  cultivation  loose  and  finely  pulverized.  This  forms  a  soil  mulch 
that  permits  the  rain  and  melting  snows  to  percolate  readily  through  to  the 
compacted  soil  beneath,  and  that  at  the  same  time  prevents  the  moisture 
stored  in  the  ground  from  being  brought  to  the  surface  by  capillary  attrac- 
tion, to  be  absorbed  by  the  hot  dry  air.  The  second  is  to  keep  the  subsoil 
finely  pulverized  and  firmly  compacted,  increasing  its  water  holding  capacity 
and  its  capillary  attraction,  and  placing  it  in  the  best  possible  physical  con- 
dition for  the  germination  of  seed  and  the  development  of  plant  roots.  The 
"dry  farmer"  thus  stores  water  not  in  dams  and  artificial  reservoirs,  but 
where  it  can  be  reached  by  the  roots  of  growing  crops." 

In  other  words,  dry  farming  methods  under  any  system,  so  far  as  known, 
do  not  supply  moisture,  but  conserve  it.  If  the  precipitation  is  too  slight  to 
produce  crops,   no  amount  of  cultivation  will   take  the  place  of  it. 

One  report  of  the  experiments  made  at  Fort  Collins,  Colo.,  says  the  aver- 
age annual  rainfall  for  a  period  of  five  years  covering  the  observations  made, 
viz:  1902  to  1907,  where  from  thirty  to  forty  bushels  of  wheat  per  acre  were 
raised,   was   fourteen   inches. 

The  same  authority,  Mr.  Strawbridge,  Surveyor-General  of  South  Aus- 
tralia, states  that  an  inspection  in  the  neighborhood  of  Cheyenne,  demon- 
strated that  the  annual  average  precipitation  at  Cheyenne  for  a  period  of 
thirty-six  years,  has  been   13.58   inches. 

At  the  Dry  Farming  Congress,  held  in  Denver,  Colo.,  in  the  year  1906, 
much  testimony  was  elicited  from  farmers  residing  in  the  states  and  terri- 
tories mentioned,  to  the  effect  that  in  the  semi-arid  districts  where  dry 
farming  had  been  pursued  most  successfully,  the  rainfall  averaged  from 
thirteen  to  twenty  inches  annually.  It  therefore  appears  that  farming  under 
the  Campbell  system  in  the  semi-arid  districts  without  artificial  irrigation, 
to  be  successful,  is  done  where  there  is  sufficient  precipitation  when  properly 
conserved  to  produce  crops;  that  dry  farming  involves  methods  of  con- 
serving the  moisture,  not  providing  a  substitute  for  it,  as  well  as  proper 
and   timely   cultivation.     As   one   writer   expresses   it: 

"The  essence  and  burden  of  the  Campbell  system  is  that  a  small  normal 
rainfall  shall  be  conserved  in  the  ground  by  harrowing  after  every  rain  for 
a  whole  year  before  the  crop  is  planted.  This  is  not  summer  fallowing.  It 
is  not  letting  the  land  lie  idle  every  other  year  to  recuperate  its  feeble  fer- 
tility. It  is  the  storing  of  a  meager  rainfall  throughout  one  year,  supplemented 
by   whatever   rain   may  fall   the  second   or  crop  year. 

"The  system  concentrates  the  limited  rainfall  of  two  seasons  on  one  crop 
by  storing  most  of  the  moisture  in  the  ground.  How  this  is  done  is  difficult 
to  explain  and  not  easy  to  understand.  The  great  drawback  to  its  rapid 
adoption  is  that  it  means  lots  of  work,  more  than  twice  as  much  as  the  or- 
dinary  farming,    which    takes    chances    of   enough   rainfall    at   the    right   time." 

Conditions    in    California. 

Scientific  dry  farming  loses  much  of  its  interest  to  the  average  Cali- 
fornia farmer  when  he  learns  that  it  is  successful  only  in  districts  where 
the  average  rainfall  is  from  ten  to  twenty  inches.  Careful  farming,  in  a 
thorough  manner,  under  methods  that  have  been  followed  in  this  State  al- 
most since  grain  growing  began  here,  has  given  fair,  if  not  always  satisfactory 
returns.  Land  in  the  great  valleys  in  California  in  seasons  when  the  rain- 
fall has  not  exceeded  ten  inches,  has  produced  crops  that  average  eight  sacks, 
an   equivalent  of   twenty   bushels   of  wheat   to   the   acre,   and   this   at   the   mini- 


TRANS-MISSISSIPPI    COMMERCIAL    CONGRESS  197 


mum   of  cost      What  the   returns   might    have   been   under   a   rotation   of   crona 
or  more  careful  plowing  and  harrowing,   one  can   easily   imagii 

A  large  part  of  the  San  Joaquin  Valley  is  known  to  gife  a  fair  yield  in 
gram   with   ten  inches  of  rainfall   for  the   season,   and    who,,    t  [Station 

reaches  fifteen  inches  the  yield  is  large.  Much  depends  on  the  time  or  times 
the  rain  falls.  Timely  rains  have  given  good  grain  crops  in  (hat  valley  when 
the  aggregate  precipitation  for  the  season  did  not  exceed  eight  Inches  If 
therefore  the  precipitation  in  the  great  grain-growing  districts  of  California 
equaled  that  shown  by  the  records  in  the  semi-arid  districts  of  Colorado 
Wyoming  and  Utah  where  dry  farming  has  been  introduced  and  practfced 
with  the  best  results,  this  State  would  seemingly  have  small  need  for  the 
Campbell    system   of   farming  for   growing   grain 

Different  descriptions  of  soil  require  different  treatment.  A  treatment 
that  gives  satisfactory  results  in  Colorado  might  not  answer  at  all  in  the 
1(lamy  S?ll  °f  t^J  SaT!  J°ac^m  Valley  and  in  the  extreme  southern  portions 
of -the  State.  Different  descriptions  of  soil  in  the  same  district  throughout  the 
State  require  peculiar  farm  treatment.  Here  we  have  heavy  red  lands  carry- 
ing considerable  clay  in  one  part  of  a  district,  black  adobe  in  another  'sedi- 
ment land  in  a  third  and  various  qualities  of  sandy  loam  in  others  each  of 
which  must  be  treated  with  intelligence  founded  on  practical  experience  in 
farming  these  lands  respectively.  In  view  of  this  fact  no  arbitrary  rule  for 
farming  can  be  laid  down  with  the  expectation  of  reaching  equally  good  re- 
sults for  all  descriptions  of  land  under  these  varied  conditions'  General 
principles  respecting  farm  work  may  be  useful  and  if  followed  with  intelli- 
gence and  care,  would  doubtless  be  beneficial.  To  illustrate:  The  quantity 
of  seed,  either  wheat  or  barley,  required  to  be  sown  depends  largely  on 
the  character  of  the  land  in  its  natural  condition,  the  rainfall  for  the  season 
and  the  time  of  sowing;  that  is  if  sown  early  in  the  fall  grain  stools  pro- 
lifically,  but  the  stools  are  less  and  less  when  sown  as  the  season  for  plant- 
ing  advances,    until    late    sowing    on    light    soils    stools    very    little. 

In  the  matter  of  plowing,  whether  deep,  medium  or  shallow,  experience 
must  largely  be  the  guide  also.  While  the  experience  and  observation  of 
many  who  are  engaged  in  farming  is  of  little  value,  mainly  because  they 
farm  by  the  rule  of  guess,  or  by  precedent,  there  are  men  in  every  com- 
munity who  farm  intelligently  and  well.  The  latter  are  quick  to  observe 
results  from  the  introduction  of  new  methods  and  improved  farm  implements, 
and  are  always   ready  to  take  advantage  of  anything  that  gives  good  results. 

Mr.   Campbell,   in   the  September  number  of   "Scientific   Farmer,"   says: 

"The  notion  is  prevalent  that  practically  all  cultivation  is  to  be  done  in 
springtime." 

He  claims  that  while  this  is  largely  true  in  humid  districts,  the  theory 
must  be  laid  aside  if  one  would  engage  in  agriculture  profitably  in  semi-arid 
countries. 

"If  cultivation  of  the  soil  is  merely  an  incident  to  farming,"  he  says, 
"the  old  plan  of  plowing  only  in  the  spring  will  work  out  very  well,  bul 
where  cultivation  is  the  main  thing  to  put  the  soil  in  proper  physical  con- 
dition and  make  it  fertile  and  useful,  there  must  be  tillage  at  the  other  sea- 
sons  of  the   year." 

He  adds:  "The  importance  of  tillage  in  the  heart  of  summer  lias  hcen 
demonstrated.  The  farmer  must  aid  Nature  when  Nature  is  engaged  most 
actively  in  her  great  laboratory.  The  importance  of  this  has  never  been  half 
appreciated.  It  is  in  July  and  August  when  the  sun's  rays  beat  heavily  on 
the  earth  that  chemical  action  in  the  soil  is  most  abundant  and  that  the  mys- 
terious processes  by  which  the  elementary  substances  are  made  available  as 
plant   food   are  carried   on   with   most  vigor." 

It  has  been  the  custom  for  generations  to  permit  the  soil  to  lie  fallow  in 
the  fall.  When  plowing  was  done  in  the  fall  sea'son  it  was  on  the  theory 
that  it  was  a  substitute  for  spring  work.  Experience  lias  shown  that  in 
farming  on  dry  land  much  efficient  work  may  be  done  in  the  fall  months.  It 
should  be  constantly  kept  in  the  mind  that  in  the  semi-arid  regions,  es- 
pecially, the  primary  purpose  of  all  cultivation  is  to  put  the  soil  in  condition 
which  best  promotes  fertility.  Plowing  is  done  not  just  to  kill  the  weeds,  or 
cultivating  to  keep  the  surface  of  the  ground  loose,  but  mainly  to  preserve 
the    moisture. 

Under  the  Campbell  system  of  farming  conservation  of  moisture  Is  always 
a  principal  feature.  Whenever  the  land  is  permitted  to  lie  until  it  becomes 
baked  and  hard  on  the  surface  the  moisture  quickly  disappears  and  con- 
siderable   rainfall    is    necessary    before    it    can    be    worked    to    advantage. 

Immigration    Into    the    Semi-Arid    West. 

In    recent   years   there   has   been   an   active    immigration    to    the    slates   and 
territories   in    the   semi-arid   districts   of   the   United    Slates    easl    of    Hie    Rocky 
Mountains  and  many  farmers  have  been   attracted    thither   by    the   alluring 
ports    of    what   mav    be    accomplished    by    scientific    farming    without    artificial 


ins  REPORT    OP    PROCEEDINGS 

irrigation.   Lands   that    have   long   been    regarded    as    suitable   only    for   grazing 

have   1 11   taken    for   farming-.     It    is  but   reasonable   to   suppose   that   many   of 

those  who  have  settled  on  the  semi-arid  lands  in  the  West,  even  where  dry 
farming  methods  have  been  most  tested,  will  come  short  of  realizing  the  ex- 
pi-.-taii.ms  held  out  to  them,  if  in  fact  they  d.>  not  become  disheartened  before 
any    thorough    test   of   the   merits    has   been    made.      As   one   writer   expresses   it. 

what    is    n led    is   greater   knowledge    of   farm   conditions   and    farm    methods. 

He  says: 

"Many  who  have  settled  upon  new  lands  in  the  West  are  under  the  im- 
pression that  a  slight  adaptation  of  farm  methods  will  enable  them  to  make 
a  success  of  farming  all  the  time,  thus  ignoring  the  plain  fact  that  there  are 
important  differences  of  climate  and  soil  which  must  be  considered.  Still 
others  labor  under  the  delusion  that  all  the  farmer  has  to  do  is  to  practice 
good  farming  under  the  accepted  and  standard  systems  in  vogue  in  states 
where  little  or  no  consideration  need  be  given  to  the  water  problem.  Both 
of  these  classes  are  in  need  of  light.  Unless  they  discover  their  error  before 
i  he  coming  of  the  inevitable  period  of  extreme  dryness,  so  that  they  may 
guard  against  the  drouth  dangers,  they  are  sure  to  meet  with  losses  that 
will  not  only  lie  of  vast  harm  to  them  personally,  but  of  incalculable  damage 
to  the  whole  Western  semi-arid  country." 


Crop    Rotation. 

In  my  study  on  the  subject  of  dry  laud  farming  it  is  strongly  impressed 
on  me  that  a  rotation  of  crops  and  fertilization  are  an  essential  part  of  the 
system.  That  is.  whenever  the  land  by  careful  plowing  at  the  proper  times 
and  by  repeated  harrowing  has  been  put  in  condition  for  growing  crops,  a 
different  grain  should  be  sown  each  successive  year.  If  wheat  is  sown  the 
first  year,  that  crop  is  followed  by  barley,  and  that  by  oats  or  other  grain. 
After  the  land  has  produced  three  crops  of  grain  the  rule,  or  perhaps  more 
properly  the  practice,  is  the  fourth  year  to  sow  field  peas  or  some  rapidly 
growing  crop  and  when  in  proper  condition  for  fertilization  to  plow  that 
crop  under  as  a  fertilizer.  Some  farmers.  I  learn,  instead  of  plowing  the 
peas  under  allow  them  to  mature  and  then  harvest  the  crop  with  hogs.  In 
other  words,  the  field  is  fenced  and  hogs  are  put  in  to  feed  on  t lie  crop. 
This,  it  is  claimed,  serves  a  double  purpose,  viz:  it  gives  the  farmer  a  means 
of  fattening  his  hogs  and  at  the  same  time  fertilizes  the  land.  This  Latter 
course  permits  the  land  to  become  dry  and  much  moisture  that  has  been 
stored  is  lost,  and  the  process  of  conservation  must  again  begin  as  at  first. 
For  the  year  immediately  following  the  crop  of  peas  thus  harvested  no  seed 
is  planted. 

It  must  be  apparent  that  in  dry  farming  the  range  of  products  is  cpuite 
limited,  viz:  confined  to  such  crops  as  can  be  cultivated  dining  the  mowing 
season  and  close  up  to  the  time  of  harvesting.  At  the  Congress  held  in  Den- 
ver in  1906,  one  farmer  living  and  farming  in  I'tali  who  claimed  to  have 
been  able  to  raise  fair  crops  almost  continuously  for  some  years,  described 
his  method  of  growing  alfalfa.  He  planted  by  use  of  a  drill,  in  rows  far 
enough  apart  to  enable  him  to  cultivate,  the  same  as  he  did  corn,  and  thus 
after  each  cutting  he  was  able  to  work  the  land  so  as  to  keep  a  mulch  on 
the  top  and  conserve  the  moisture.  It  will  therefore  be  seen  that  the  state- 
ment   that    dry    farming   involved    "lots   of   work"    is    well    founded. 


crop  a"t  all,  mighl    be  Imitated  by  California   grain   farmers  to  their  profit. 

But  the  difference  In  conditions  In  California  from  those  in  the  states 
where  dry  farming  is  now  most  practiced  should  not  be  lost  sight  of.  in  this 
State  intensive  farming  is  growing  in  importance  each  succeeding  year,  ('.rain 
mowing  Is  gradually  giving  way  to  other  branches  of  agriculture  and  the 
n.w  conditions  are  not  generally  favorable  to  dry  farming.  On  the  con- 
trary,    means   for   Irrigation   are   extending   the  area    of   fruits,    vegetables  and 

i.i    year    by    year   throughout    the    state.     The   certainty    of   profitable   re- 


TRANS-MISSISSIPPI    COMMERCIAL    CONGRESS  199 

turns  from   farming-  by  irrigation,   as  against  the  uncertainty   under  a  system 
of   dry   farming,    makes   the   former    in    every   way   desirable. 

Then,  too,  it  would  not  be  practicable  to  produce  many  of  the  fruits  and 
other  products  now  grown  in  California,  if  only  the  natural  precipitation  was 
to    be    had,   no   matter    how    carefully    and    scientifically    it    was    conserved. 

Many  fruit  growers  in  this  State,  without  claiming  to  follow  any  scien- 
tific system,  do  in  practice  adopt  the  Campbell  system  pretty  closely  in  some 
respects  without  knowing  it.  In  other  words,  experience  has  shown  them 
that  the  minimum  of  water  and  the  maximum  of  cultivation  give  the  best 
results.  Instead  of  applying  all  the  water  to  their  orchards  and  vineyards 
that  the  land  will  take,  as  was  done  some  years  ago,  the  tendency  now  is  to 
use  only  sufficient  water  to  keep  the  land  in  good  productive  condition  by 
faithful  and  continuous  cultivation  through  as  long  a  period  in  the  year  as 
practicable. 

Irrigation   the   Important   Feature   iu    This    State. 

It  does  not  seem  to  me  that  in  this  State  the  question  of  how  crops  may 
be  grown  profitably  under  the  Campbell  system  has  much  importance.  The 
greater  interest  seems  to  lie  in  the  direction  of  continued  effort  to  develop 
water  for  irrigation,  and  until  the  limit  of  development  of  water,  at  a  cost 
which  permits  its  profitable  use  for  farming  purposes,  has  been  reached,  the 
science  of  dry  farming,  for  its  further  development,  may  properly  be  left 
to  the  semi-arid  districts  east  of  the  Rocky  Mountain   Range. 

In  California,  perhaps  as  conspicuously  as  in  any  part  of  the  United 
States,  soils  of  all  descriptions  respond  readily  to  good  treatment  and  the 
lesson  of  careful  cultivation  may  therefore  be  taken  to  heart  and  put  to 
practical  use.  It  is  not  a  secret  that  cultivation  at  proper  times  conserves 
moisture.  The  knowledge  of  this  has  not,  however,  caused  much  improve- 
ment in  grain  farming,  nor  is  it  likely  to  do  so  while  farmers  are  able  to 
secure  large  areas  and  to  get  in  the  aggregate  from  poor  farming  fair  re- 
turns for  their  labor  at  the  minimum  of  cost. 

General   Features,   Including   Education. 

Statistics  give  the  number  of  farms  in  the  United  States  as  upward  of 
six  million  (of  which  one  million  are  in  the  semi-arid  region  of  the  "West),  and 
the  number  of  people  (including  men,  women  and  children)  living  on  and 
supported  on  farms,  at  thirty  million.  When  we  consider  that  farming  is  the 
basic  industry  of  the  Nation  and  that  all  prosperity  is  dependent  upon  it,  we 
begin  to  realize  the  importance  of  following  to  its  conclusion  any  plan  that 
is  proposed  which  promise  to  be  helpful  to  this  class  of  workers.  It  is  for 
this.,reason  that  much  attention  has  been  given  to  the  matter  of  dry  farming. 
If,  after  continued  tests,  it  is  found  that  the  principle  of  conservation  of 
moisture  in  the  way  suggested  by  Mr.  Campbell  will  make  large  areas  in  the 
West  productive  that  without  it  must  remain  practically  unused  except  for 
grazing,   a   great   good   shall   have   been   accomplished. 

What    the    Government    anil    the    States    Are    Doing. 

The  National  Government,  through  the  Agricultural  Department  at  Wash- 
ington, has  done  much  in  the  way  of  giving  information  as  to  the  kind  of 
cr,ops  best  suited  to  particular  soils,  and  through  publications  distributed 
widely,  has  rendered  valuable  assistance  to  the  farmers  of  the  country.  The 
Government  also  makes  careful  studies  of  agricultural  problems  and  presents 
the  results  in  pamphlets,  comprehensive  and  illustrated,  for  free  distribution. 
If  the  farmer  wishes  advice  as  to  what  he  should  do  to  make  his  soil  more 
productive,  or  as  to  the  kind  of  crops  to  raise,  the  department,  through  its 
wide  knowledge  of  soil  conditions,  is  ever  ready  to  aid  him.  In  various 
places  demonstration  is  made  on  experimental  farms,  the  effect  of  which  is 
to  afford  opportunity  to  those  who  desire  it,  to  learn  of  improved  methods  in 
farming. 

How   Institutes  and    Schools   Help. 

Many  states  have  agricultural  schools  and  colleges,  which  also  directly 
benefit  the  farming  community,  and  as  educational  advantages  in  this  par- 
ticular branch  of  industry  are  better  appreciated,  the  usefulness  of  these  in- 
stitutes is  broadened.  Farming  institutes  likewise  tend  in  the  same  direction. 
The  tendency  of  both  schools  and  institutes  is  to  excite  inquiry  and  intelli- 
gent discussion  of  matters  which  relate  to  farm  products,  methods  of  cultiva- 
tion  and  general   farm   work. 

Institutes  also  tend  to  the  consideration  of  the  advantages  and  disad- 
vantages of  farm  life,  as  compared  to  life  in  towns  and  cities.  In  this  special 
feature,   they  may  be  made  helpful  and  beneficial  as  well  as  instructive. 

Federal  Commission. 

President  Roosevelt  has  recently  expressed  his  interest  in  promoting  bet- 
ter social  and  intellectual  conditions  on  the  farm  in  the  appointment  of  a 
commission   to  consider  and  report  upon  ways  for  improving  them. 


200  REPORT    OP    PROCEEDINGS 

I  >r.  Walter  H.  Page,  one  of  the  members  of  the  commission,  in  "World's 
\\ '..rk. "  recently  summed  up  regarding  the  farmer  and  his  future  as  follows: 

"Getting  a  living  from  the  soil  is  a  scientific  and  profitable  pursuit  for 
those  who  know  best  how  to  do  it — those  who  take  advantage  of  all  the  new 
knowledge.  As  the  number  of  such  persons  increases  and  better  methods  are 
emploved,  and  especially  as  better  management  is  used,  the  profits  and  the 
of  country  life  will  grow.  Organization  will  take  the  place  of  wasteful 
individual    work.      The   intellectual    life   will   be   cultivated.      The   time   dreamed 

of  by  the  ] is  and  philosophers  will  come — may  come — throughout  this  great 

country,  and  it  would  come  within  a  reasonable  short  time  if  all  the  forces 
could  be  co-ordinated  and  directed  right.  A  great  common  movement  toward 
such  an  end  would  take  rank  as  the  most  important  work  in  our  land,  per- 
haps  the   most   important   in    the    whole   world." 


GEO.  C.  PARDEE,  Oakland,  California. 


IX 


I 


TWELFTH  SESSION 


Saturday  Morning,  October  10th,  1908. 
By  Vice-President  Col.  Ike  T.  Pryor,  of  San  Antonio,  Texas: 

The  hour  of  10  o'clock  has  arrived.  The  order  of  business  is  the  con- 
firmation of  the  report  of  the  Committee  on  Permanent  Organization.  As 
the  gentleman  whom  they  have  recommended  for  the  presidency  is  at  present 
absent,  but  will  be  here  in  a  few  minutes,  I  shall  take  this  opportunity  to 
make  a  statement:  The  annual  dues  of  permanent  members  of  this  organ- 
ization are  five  dollars.  Pending  the  arrival  of  the  gentleman  mentioned 
by  the  Committee  on  Permanent  Organization  as  your  President  next  year, 
the  dues  will  be  received  from  each  man  who  wishes  to  become  a  perma- 
nent member  of  this  organization.  The  Secretary  is  ready  to  receive  them, 
and  will  give  receipts. 

By  President  Case:        PERMANENT    MEMBERSHIP. 

The  Vice-President  has  called  your  attention  to  the  importance  of  the 
permanent  membership  fund.  If  I  am  correct,  I  believe  that  last  year  we  did 
not  receive  as  much  from  that  membership  fund  as  we  should.  As  you  know, 
this  organization  depends  upon  its  members  largely  for  at  least  a  portion 
of  its  expenses,  and  it  is  of  vital  importance  that  we  not  only  keep  up  to  the 
standard  of  that  fund,  but  that  we  increase  it. 

Under  the  by-laws  fixing  Friday,  10  a.  m.,  for  the  election  of  officers,  it 
is  now  necessary  to  confirm  this  action  today,  being  the  last  day  of  the 
Congress,  instead  of  yesterday.  The  report  of  the  Committee  on  Organization 
was  adopted  yesterday,  not  knowing  whether  the  Congress  would  continue 
again  today.  I  think,  therefore,  it  is  wise  and  safe  to  take  this  matter  up 
this  morning  and  reaffirm  the  action  of  the  Congress.  There  will  then  be  no 
mistake. 
By  Col.  H.  D.  Loveland,  of  California: 

I  move  that  this  Congress  elect  as  the  officers  for  the  ensuing  year  the 
gentlemen  presented  by  the  Committee  on  Permanent  Organization. 

By  Colonel   Pryor: 

I  second  the  motion. 

By   President  Case: 

The  motion  is  made  by  Col.  H.  D.  Loveland,  of  California,  seconded  by 
Colonel  Ike  T.  Pryor,  of  Texas,  that  the  action  of  the  Congress  yesterday 
upon  the  report  of  the  Committee  on  Permanent  Organization  be  confirmed. 

(The  motion  was  formally  carried.) 

LOUISIANA'S    GAVEL. 

By  Mr.  W.  O.  Hart,  of  Louisiana: 

When  on  Tuesday  I  had  the  honor  of  presenting  to  this  Congress  a 
gavel,  up  to  that  time  I  had  not  been  able  to  have  it  suitably  inscribed.  1 
now  beg  to  return  the  gavel  to  you  for  the  use  of  the  Congress  with  this 
inscription  thereon : 

From  the  Battlefield  of  Chalmette 

January  8,  1815. 

Presented  by 

"The  United   States   Daughters  of  1776   and   1812" 

of  Louisiana,  to  the 

Trans-Mississippi  Commercial  Congress. 

October  6th,  1908. 

(Applause.) 


202  REPORT    OF    PROCEEDINGS 

By   President   Case: 

You  see  the  gavel;  it  is  the  property  of  this  Congress.  I  desire  on  behalf 
of  the  members  of  this  Congress  to  return  our  thanks  to  the  gentleman  from 
Louisiana.     What  is  the  further  pleasure  of  this  Congress? 

By    Mr.    Briggs: 

What  is  the  matter  with  the  ladies  of  Louisiana  in  that  vote  of  thanks? 

By  President  Case: 

We  will  extend  them  also  to  the  ladies  who  presented  us  with  the  gavel. 

By   Mr.   Briggs: 

I  move  you  that  suitable  thanks  be  extended  to  the  ladies  by  this 
Congress. 

By   Mr.   Gosper,  of   Los  Angeles: 
I  second  the  motion. 

By  Mr.  Burton,  of  Los  Angeles: 
I   move  a  rising  vote. 

By  President  Case: 

You  have  heard  the  motion;  all  in  favor  signify  the  same  by  rising. 
All  opposed  will  now  please  stand.     The  motion  was  unanimously  carried. 

By   Maj.   R.   W.  Young,  of   Utah: 

I  move  that  the  President  of  this  Congress  be  made  the  permanent 
custodian  of  that  gavel;   that  is,  yourself. 

By  President  Case: 

Thank  you.     Will  you  put  that  motion,  Mr.  Loveland? 

By    Past    President    Loveland,   of   California: 

You  have  heard  the  motion,  that  our  retiring  president  be  made  the 
permanent  custodian  of  this  gavel.  Mr.  Hart,  you  presented  it  for  your 
state,  and  know  better  than  I  the  disposition  that  was  intended  for  it.  1  for 
one  should  like  to  see  it  go  to  Mr.  Case  as  a  token  of  the  admirable  manner 
he  has  presided  over  this  Congress.     Is  that  satisfactory  to  you,   Mr.   Hart? 

By  Mr.  Hart: 

No.  The  idea  in  presenting  the  gavel  to  this  Congress  was  that  it 
should  be  used  at  succeeding  conventions  and  especially  the  convention  of 
1910  in  New  Orleans. 

By   Major  Young: 

I  did  not  contemplate  that  it  should  go  out  of  the  possession  of  the 
Congress,  but  that  Mr.  Case  should  be  custodian. 

A    Delegate: 

Is  it  understood  that  Mr.  Case  retain  control  of  it  indefinitely  or  that 
it   pass  to  each  succeeding  president? 

By  Colonel   Loveland: 

Thai   it   passes  to  his  successor. 

By   Mr.    Briggs: 

I  would  like  to  ask  if  that  means  that  the  President  be  made  permanent 
custodian,  or  if  the  succeeding  president  be  the  custodian. 


TRANS-MISSISSIPPI    COMMERCIAL    CONGRESS  203 

By  Colonel   Loveland: 

Mr.  Hart  has  explained  that  it  is  to  be  the  permanent  property  of  the 
Congress. 

(The  motion  was  formally  presented  and  unanimously  carried.) 
HONORABLE   THOMAS    F.   WALSH    INSTALLED    AS     PRESIDENT. 

By   President  Case: 

Gentlemen  of  the  Trans-Mississippi  Commercial  Congress:  We  are 
about  to  close  the  Nineteenth  Session  of  this  great  organization.  I  desire 
to  return  my  thanks  for  the  honor  that  you  have  conferred  upon  me.  I  desire 
to  express  my  thanks  to  each  member  of  this  Congress,  and  to  the  officers 
with  whom  I  have  had  the  pleasure  of  being  associated  during  the  past 
year — to  the  citizens  of  San  Francisco,  who  have  given  us  such  a  cordial 
greeting;    to  the  members  of  the  press,  who  have  been  so  kind  to  us. 

It  is  now  my  duty  and  my  pleasure  to  introduce  to  you  my  successor  in 
office,  a  gentleman  who  has  made  a  great  success  in  life,  and  who,  I  assure 
you,  will  make  a  success  of  the  office  which  he  holds  during  the  next  year. 
The  duties  of  the  President  of  this  Congress  are  many,  and  I  have  every 
reason  to  believe  that  at  the  expiration  of  his  term  the  Congress  will  be 
greater  than  it  ever  has  been.     (Applause.) 

I  now  have  the  pleasure  of  introducing  to  you  my  friend  and  my  suc- 
cessor, Honorable  Thomas  F.  Walsh,  of  Denver,  Colorado.      (Applause.) 

By   3Ir.   Thos.   F.  Walsh,   of   Denver,  Colo.: 

Mr.  President  and  Delegates  to  the  Trans-Mississippi  Commercial  Con- 
gress: I  thank  the  president  for  his  complimentary  words.  I  would  like  to 
correct  one  mistake  he  made.  He  said  "The  Honorable"  Thomas  F.  Walsh, 
and  in  that  correction  I  would  like  to  say  that  it  is  just  plain,  everyday 
"Tom"  Walsh.      (Applause.) 

I  feel  deeply  the  honor  that  you  have  conferred  upon  me  in  electing  me 
your  president  for  the  next  term  of  this  organization,  and  that  honor  has 
been  doubly  intensified  by  the  feeling  of  good  will  which  has  accompanied  it. 
And  I  thank  you  from  the  bottom  of  my  heart  for  the  honor  which  you  have 
conferred   upon  me. 

I  also  thank  you  for  selecting  my  State  and  my  home  city  wherein  to 
hold  your  next  session.  I  am  sure  that  with  the  co-operation  of  this  associa- 
tion and  the  co-operation  of  the  people  of  Colorado  we  will  make  the  next 
session  a  very  successful  one,  and  I  am  sure  the  delegates  attending  that  Con- 
gress, as  well  as  the  other  visitors,  will  be  pleased  and  delighted  with  our 
capital  city,  with  our  State,  our  climate,  and  more  than  all,  with  the  warm  hos- 
pitality of  our  people. 

The  organization  which  you  represent,  gentlemen,  is  a  grand  one,  and  it  Is 
a  truly  representative  body.  It  represents  a  vast  and  a  great  empire  that  is 
rich  in  the  fertility  of  its  soil  that  is  blest  with  all  of  the  natural  resources 
that  go  to  make  a  country  and  a  people  great.  But  in  the  development  of 
our  conditions,  in  the  development  of  our  resources,  there  is  great  work  to 
be  done;  there  are  many  vital  questions  to  be  settled  in  the  future.  Good 
roads  must  be  built,  for  without  them  our  civilization  will  not  grow.  Simple 
though  the  work  may  appear,  they  touch  the  deepest  fibers  of  human  life.  The 
rivers  that  flow  idly  to  the  sea  now  must  be  harnessed  into  active  agencies  to 
transport  our  commodities.  Every  idle  resource  must  be  employed,  so  as  to 
bend  its  utility  to  the  use  and  the  benefit  of  mankind.  The  reclamation  of 
the  arid  lands  must  not  stop.  It  must  go  on  until  every  barren  waste  of  our 
territory  is  changed  into  productive,  happy  and  independent  homes  for  our 
growing  population.  These  are  but  a  few  of  the  great  works  that  the  future 
spreads  out  before  us.  Great  questions,  both  economic  and  ethical,  will  have 
to  be  solved,  and  I  am  sure  that  this  body  in  its  intelligent  discussions  of  those 
questions  will  help  in  pointing  the  way  for  their  solution  and  enable  the 
Congress  of  the  United  States  to  adopt  and  embody  in  the  laws  of  our 
country  proper   remedial   legislation. 

In  all  of  this  great  work  of  commercial  progress,  let  us  not  forget  the 
higher  things  of  life,  for  without  them  our  civilization  would  lack  perfection. 
Man's  civilization  is  an  evolution  that  has  been  going  on  from  the  earliest 
times  to  now.  It  has  been  a  struggle  to  get  up  out  of  animal  conditions. 
Material   wealth    is   but   the   least   of  its   possessions.      Those   word   are  as   true 


204  REPORT    OF    PROCEEDINGS 

today  as  when  they  were  first  spoken:  "That  eternal  vigilance  is  the  price 
of  liberty."  and  they  will  hold  true  so  long'  as  human  civilization  lasts.  So 
that,  gentlemen,  in  striving  for  the  material  interests  of  our  country,  let  us 
not  forget  the  higher  ideals  of  life,  let  us  not  forget  that  without  them  our 
civilization  will  not  be  enduring.  Let  us  then  work  hand  in  hand,  and  even 
with  greater  fervor  in  that  direction  than  in  working  for  the  material  success 
of  our  country.  Let  us,  for  instance,  give  in  the  future  even  greater  atten- 
tion to  the  schoolhouse,  both  with  regard  to  number  and  with  regard  to 
teachers,  than  we  have  in  the  past.  Let  us  raise  the  standard  of  citizenship, 
of  honesty  in  official  life,  and  raise  the  standard  of  the  ballot.  Let  us  try 
to  inculcate  a  greater  love  for  our  fellowman  that  will  enable  us  to  cast  that 
enemy  of  all  civilization,  personal  selfishness,  aside,  that  will  enable  us  to 
serve  our  country  and  our  flag  with  devotion  in  every  way  we  can.  Let  lis 
try  to  act  in  such  a  way  that  our  work  will  bring  t lie  greatest  good  to  the 
greatest  number.  Let  us  try  to  make  this  world  happier  and  better,  and  to 
make    the    struggle    of   human    life   much    easier    than    it    is    now. 

Again,  I  thank  you,  gentlemen,  and  I  promise  to  try  to  prove  in  every 
way  worthy  of  the  trust  and  the  confidence  that  you  have  reposed  in  me. 
(Prolonged  applause.) 

By  Vice-President  Pryor." 

The    President    does    me   the   honor   to   allow    me    to   preside. 

We  will  hear  now  the  reading  of  the  report  of  the  Resolutions  Com- 
mittee; and  I  hope  each  and  every  one  will  pay  careful  and  strict  atten- 
tion, as  we  are  commencing  the  reading  of  this  report  one  hour  late.  It  is 
our  object  to  finish  all  our  business  at  this  session,  and  I  hope  every  man 
will  help  us  and  look  to  that  end.  Any  objection  that  the  members  have  I 
wish  they  would  think  about  when  the  reading  of  the  report  is  finished. 

By  Chairman   Harris,  of  Texas: 

Mr.  Chairman,  as  chairman  of  your  Committee  on  Resolutions,  I  am 
instructed  to  report  that  your  committee  has  had  under  consideration  all  of 
the  resolutions  which  have  reached  them  in  regular  course,  have  deliberated 
upon  them,  have  listened  to  the  authors  and  their  advocates  and  the 
opponents  of  the  resolution;  said  committee  has  sat  from  day  to  day,  and 
finally  has  risen,  and  makes  their  report  to  this  body.  The  chairman  of 
our  committee  requests  the  Honorable  W.  O.  Hart  to  read  the  resolutions, 
he  being  the  chairman  of  the  Compilation  Committee. 

In  connection  with  this  report,  as  chairman  of  the  Committee  on  Reso- 
lutions, I  move  their  passage  upon  a  final  reading  of  the  resolutions,  and 
ask  the  Chair  to  hold  that  motion  in  suspense  until  the  resolutions  shall 
have  been  read.  Your  committee  thereupon  beg  to  be  discharged  from 
further  consideration  of  the  work  entrusted  to  it. 

By  Colonel  Pryor: 

Any  discussion  to  the  motion? 

A  Delegate: 

I  second  the  motion. 

By   Governor   Rickard,  of   Montana: 

Mr.  Chairman,  is  that  not  out  of  the  ordinary,  to  discharge  a  committee 
before  we  have  considered  its  report.  This  report  comes  up  after  considera- 
tion of  several  resolutions  that  have  been  before  the  body.  It  may  be 
the  wisdom  of  this  Congress  to  report  some  one  or  more  of  these  resolu- 
tions back  to  the  committee  for  further  consideration.  It  is  unparliamentary. 
so  far  as  all  my  knowledge  and  experience  goes,  to  discharge  a  committee 
before   we  have  considered  its   report. 

By  Chairman   Harris: 

Possibly  i  he  gentleman  did  not  understand  the  nature  of  the  motion 
Of  the  chairman  of  the  committee.    The  motion  was,  that  after  the  resolu- 


TRANS-MISSISSIPPI    COMMERCIAL    CONGRESS  205 

tions  shall  have  been  read  and  duly  seconded,  and  passed  upon  by  this 
body,  that  the  committee  should  be  discharged,  and  I  ask  the  Chair  to  hold 
that  motion  in  suspense  until  the  usual  course  could  be  pursued.     (Applause.) 

By  Vice-President  Pryor: 

That  is  right.  I  will  now  introduce  to  you,  gentlemen,  Mr.  Hart,  of 
Louisiana,  who  will  read  the  report. 

Mr.  W.  O.  Hart,  of  Louisiana: 

Mr.  President,  and  members  of  the  Trans-Mississippi  Commercial  Con- 
gress, in  Nineteenth  Annual  Session  convened: 

REPORT    OF    THE    COMMITTEE    ON    RESOLUTIONS. 

Your  undersigned  Committee  on  Resolutions  begs  to  make  the  follow- 
ing report,  and  asks  that  same  be  adopted: 

RESOLUTIONS. 

The  Trans-Mississippi  Commercial  Congress  points  with  pride  to  what  it 
has  accomplished  since  its  organization,  and  particularly  to  the  fact  that 
many  of  its  recommendations  have  been  adopted  by  the  National  Congress, 
demonstrating  its  great  and  growing  influence  for  the  betterment  and  sub- 
stantial progress  of  the  people  of  the  Trans-Mississippi  region,  embracing 
twenty  states,  two  organized  territories  of  the  mainland,  Alaska,  Hawaii 
and  the  Philippine  Islands. 

In  accordance  with  its  custom,  this  Congress  presents  the  following 
as  important  subjects  to  which  it  invites  the  earnest  attention  of  the 
President   of  the  United   States   and   the  members   of   the  National   Congress. 

RIVERS,  HARBORS  AND  CANALS. 

We  emphatically  reaffirm  the  clear  and  comprehensive  resolutions  passed 
at  former  sessions  of  this  Congress  in  regard  to  the  improvement  of  the  water- 
ways and  harbors  of  our  entire  country.  Speaking  more  especially  for  the 
Trans-Mississippi  region,  which  is  far  more  than  half  of  the  United  States, 
we  recognize  that  within  the  last  year  our  transportation  necessities  have 
greatly  increased.  The  time  has  come  when  we  should  push  with  all  possible 
expedition  the  perfect  improvement,  ample  extension  and  efficient  main- 
tenance of  these  natural  facilities,  by  which  alone  can  we  get  the  cheapest 
transportation  and  adequate  outlets  for  our  products;  hence  we  again  most 
earnestly  commend  to  our  members  the  movement  more  especially  represented 
by  the  National  Rivers  and  Harbors  Congress,  and  adopt  as  ours  its  slogan — 
an  annual  appropriation  of  at  least  $50,000,000,  to  be  expended  in  the  further- 
ance of  the  pressing  and   indispensable  work. 

We  again  endorse  the  project  of  deep  water  from  the  Great  Lakes  to  the 
Gulf  of  Mexico,  so  that  the  sea  shall  virtually  be  carried  to  Chicago,  that  our 
teeming  products  may  find  water  transportation  at  convenient  ports  all 
through  the  center  of  our  great  country  instead  of  being  subjected  to  long 
and   expensive    hauls   over   congested   railroads   to   the    coast. 

We  favor  the  perfect  and  permanent  improvement  to  the  highest  points 
of  navigation  of  such  channels  of  travel  as  the  Missouri  and  other  rivers, 
penetrating    to    the    heart    of    the    great    Trans-Mississippi    country. 

We  And  that  even  our  most  extensive  works  are  soon  inadequate,  both  in 
depth  and  space,  for  the  wants  of  commerce.  The  older  nations,  though  of 
smaller  area  and  with  productions  near  to  the  sea,  have  long  since  found  it 
indispensable  to  avail  themselves  of  the  most  perfect  capacity  of  all  classes 
of  transportation.  What  was  indispensable  for  them  is  now  even  more  vital 
for  us  with  our  greater  territory  and  far  more  productive  population.  Hence 
we  urge  that  improvement  keep  pace  with  and  anticipate  our  commercial 
wants. 

We  hail  with  satisfaction  the  progressive,  statesmanlike  and  patriotic 
utterances  and  actions  of  the  President  of  the  United  States  in  regard  to 
these  great  measures.  We  call  upon  our  Senators  and  Representatives  in 
Congress,  regardless  of  party,  to  support  him  in  this  policy,  which  we  wish 
advanced  to  the  very  first  rank  of  our  public  policies.  If  necessary  in  the 
construction    and    maintenance    of    the    great    system    of    works    of    which    our 


206  REPORT    OF    PROCEEDINGS 

whole  country  now  stands  in  most  urgent  need,  we  favor  the  creation  of  a 
department  of  public  works,  and  so  far  requisite,  an  increase  of  the  public 
debt  We  wish  no  waste,  nor  do  we  wish  to  antagonize  any  other  proper 
public  interest;  but  we  demand  prompt  and  efficient  attention  to  these  com- 
mercial  needs;  provided  the  projects  proposed  are  found  to  be  practicable  and 
of  public  use  by   the    United   States  Engineers. 

CALIFORNIA    RIVERS    AM)    HARBORS. 

As  we  believe  in  equal  development  of  the  whole  country,  and  knowing 
the  urgent  need  of  more  water  transportation,  we  favor  the  proposal  now 
before  the  Government  authorities  for  the  construction  of  a  breakwater  to 
make  yet   more  available  the  splendid   natural  harbor  of  Monterey. 

This  Congress  recommends  to  and  urges  upon  the  < 'ongress  of  the 
United  States  that  immediate  appropriation  be  made  in  the  following  amounts. 
and    for   the  following  purposes,    to  wit: 

(a)  That  an  appropriation  of  at  least  $259,250  be  made  for  the  purpose 
of  deepening  the  water  over  the  outer  bar  at  tin-  harbor  of  San  Diego,  and 
for  removing  the  middle  ground  in  said  harbor,  in  accordance  with  the 
report  and  recommendations  of  the  Board  of  Engineers  for  Rivers  and  Harbors. 
dated  May  11,  1908,  in  order  to  accommodate  the  naval  vessels  desiring 
to  coal  at  the  Government  coaling  station,  now  being  constructed. 

(b)  That  an  appropriation  be  made  for  the  purpose  of  repairing  and 
extending  the  Twin  Jetties  at  the  entrance  of  Humboldt  Bay,  in  order  that 
the  channel  of  the  hay  may  be  rendered  safe  to  commerce,  and  that  an 
appropriation  also  be  made  for  the  purpose  of  removing  the  hogbacks  formed 
by    the    deposit    of   sand    in    the    interior    bay. 

(c)  That  the  amount  of  $250,000,  in  addition  to  the  balance  unexpended 
July  1st.  for  works  of  improvement  in  Oakland  Harbor,  from  the  appropria- 
tion authorized  by  Act  of  Congress.  March  3,  1905,  in  compliance  with  recom- 
mendations  of  the   Board   of   Engineers   for   Rivers   and   Harbors. 

id)  That  the  sum  of  $400,000  be  appropriated  for  the  purpose  of  per- 
forming the  work  specified  and  recommended  in  the  Special  Report  of  the 
California  Debris  Commission,  in  regard  to  the  further  appropriation  for  the 
control  of  mining  debris,  included  in  the  navigability  and  providing  for  the 
control  of  the  flood  waters  of  the  Sacramento  and  Feather  rivers,  California, 
dated   June   30,    1907. 

(e)  That  an  appropriation  of  at  least  $284,800  be  made  for  tin-  purpose 
of  extending  the  breakwater  at  San  Pedro  Harbor  from  its  present  terminus 
to  the  shore  line,  in  accordance  with  the  report  and  recommendations  of  the 
Board    of    Kngineers   for   Rivers   and   Harbors,  made   February    IT.    Unix. 

PROVIDED,  that  before  entering  upon  any  work  on  the  Sacramento  and 
Feather  rivers,  the  state  of  California  have  appropriated  and  that  there  be 
available  from  the  funds  in  the  California  State  treasury,  an  equal  sum  of 
$400,000   for   the   same  purpose. 

We  urgently  recommend  to  the  Congress  of  the  United  States  that  im- 
mediate action  be  taken  for  improving  the  channel  of  the  Sacramento  River, 
so  that  its  navigability  to  Red  Bluff  may  be  maintained  during  all  seasons  of 
the  year. 

COOS    HAY. 

We  recommend  that  a  board  of  skilled  engineers  be  appointed  by  the 
United  States  Government  to  revise  the  projects  for  the  improvement  of  the 
harbor  of  Coos  Bay,  witli  a  view  of  fortifying  the  entrance  and  making  the 
harbor  a  coaling  station. 

BAYOU    LAFOURCHE. 

We  recommend  that  the  Congn  ss  of  the  United  States  be  requested  to 
compel  the  opening  of  Bayou  Lafourche,  in  the  state  of  Louisiana,  by  the  con- 
struction of  locks  or  the  removal  of  the  dam. 

ARKANSAS    RIVER. 

We  earnestly  recommend  that  the  United  States  Government  appropriate 
sufficient  funds  for  the  improvement  of  the  Arkansas  River  so  that  same  may 
be  navigable   from   its  mouth  as  far  as  Muskogee,  Oklahoma. 

INTER-CO  \ST\I.  CAM  UL. 

We  endorse  the  proposed  inter-coastal  canal  from  the  Mississippi  River 
to  the  Rio  Grande,  as  a  needed  and  most  beneficial  waterway  Improvement 
and  we  respectfully  urge  the  Senators  and  Representatives  of  the  Trans- 
Mississippi  States  in  Congress  to  favor  a  .anal  of  not  less  than  nine  feet  in 
depth  and  not  less  than  one  hundred   feet   in  width. 

SMSI.AW    HARBOR. 

In  view  of  the  approaching  completion  of  the  Panama  Canal,  every  harbor 
of  the  Pacific  Coast,  which  by  a  reasonable  expi  nditun    can  be  made  practicable 


TRANS-MISSISSIPPI    COMMERCIAL    CONGRESS  207 

for  ocean  commerce,  is  of  national  importance  and  the  Siuslaw  Harbor  of 
Lane  County.  Oregon,  appearing-  as  such  worthy  and  the  natural  outlet  to  the 
sea  for  a  large  timber  and  agricultural  district,  it  is  recommended  that  the 
said  harbor  be  restored  to  the  position  formerly  occupied  in  the  harbor  and 
river  appropriations  and  that  the  improvements  there  commenced  be  carried 
to   completion. 

SUGAR. 

The  domestic  sugar  industry  merits  and  is  entitled  to  complete  and 
ample  protection,  and  that  this  Congress  is  opposed  to  any  measure  that 
tends   to    increase    the    importation   of  free   sugar   grown   by   cheap   labor. 

NAVY    YARDS. 

The  Trans-Mississippi  Commercial  Congress  commends  the  Congress  of 
the  United  States  for  the  liberal  policy  it  has  heretofore  adopted  in  the  pro- 
tection and  development  of  the  National  interests  in  the  interior  territory 
and  coast  lines   of  the   Trans-Mississippi   States. 

Inasmuch  as  the  dock  facilities  of  the  Pacific  Coast  are  inadequate  to 
care  for  a  strong  defensive  fleet  of  battleships  and  cruisers,  it  is  of 
paramount  importance  that  two  Government  docks  be  maintained,  one  at 
Bremerton,  Washington,   and   one  at  Mare  Island,  California. 

We  recommend  that  a  commission  be  immediately  appointed  to  investigate 
and  report,  not  only  in  respect  to  needed  appropriations  for  the  Mare  Island 
Navy  Yard,  but  also  of  the  conditions  at  present  prevailing,  and  to  recommend 
a  plan  under  which  a  channel  of  sufficient  depth  to  permit  the  passage  of 
ships  of  the  deepest  draft  to  the  yards  can  be  maintained,  and  adequate 
facilities  be  provided  to  care  for  a  battleship  fleet  of  such  size  as  may  be 
required  upon   the  Pacific  Coast. 

GRAPE     INDUSTRY. 

The  policy  of  our  Government  has  been  to  promote  agriculture  and 
horticulture.  As  a  result,  in  the  Trans-Mississippi  States,  hundreds  of  thou- 
sands of  acres  of  land  and  hundreds  of  millions  of  capital  are  devoted  to  the 
cultivation  of  the  grape,  and  many  thousands  of  families  depend  upon  that 
industry  for  a  living.  One  great  source  of  profit  to  the  grape  grower  has 
been  the  use  of  American  sweet  wines  as  medicinal  components.  The  ruling 
of  the  Internal  Revenue  Commissioner,  ratified  by  the  Secretary  of  the 
Treasury,  forbids  such  use  of  American  sweet  wines  to  the  great  loss  and 
distress  of  the  grape  grower.  Our  domestic  sweet  wines  are  outlawed  and 
their  place  is  taken  by  foreign  wines,  imported  under  reciprocity  at  a  rate 
of  duty  per  alcoholic  content  which  is  only  two-thirds  of  our  internal  revenue 
tax  on  domestic  spirits.  The  Trans-Mississippi  Commercial  Congress  respect- 
fully requests  the  President  of  the  United  States  as  the  only  competent  legal 
authority   to    reverse   and   cancel   the   ruling  against   American   sweet   wines. 

This  Congress  also  requests  that  in  the  revision  of  the  tariff  there  be 
no  reduction  of  the  duties  on  the  products  of  the  vineyard,  either  directly  or  by 
reciprocity.  American  agriculture  demands  the  right  to  live  by  such  diversity 
of  products  as  our  varied  climate  permits,  and  this  Congress  asks  that  there 
be  no  discrimination  against   the  grape  and   its  products. 

ELECTRIC    POWER. 

This  Congress  recognizes  the  growing  importance  of  the  development  of 
electric  power,  not  only  for  the  purposes  of  lighting,  manufacturing  and  com- 
merce, but  also  in  aid  of  irrigation  by  pumping  from  subterranean  sources. 
Developments  already  accomplished  in  this  direction  warrant  the  assumption 
that  in  the  not  far  distant  future,  the  lands  irrigated  by  water  pumped  from 
such  sources  will  equal,  if  they  do  not  exceed,  lands  irrigated  from  the 
natural  flow  of  streams.  The  development  and  use  of  our  streams  for  the 
generation  of  electric  power  not  only  aids  and  increases  irrigation  directly, 
but  is  beneficial  in  many  other  ways.  First,  it  renders  possible  and  profitable 
the  construction  of  reservoirs  in  the  high  mountains  withholding  excessive 
floods  thus  aiding  reclamation  and  also  conserving  this  injurious  flow  which 
is  later  added  to  the  beneficial  flow  of  water  available  for  irrigation.  Second, 
it  is  the  one  great  source  of  supply  immediately  available  for  lighting,  heat  and 
power  as  a  substitute  for  other  fuels,  thus  limiting  the  rapid  destruction  of 
our  forests  and  also  conserving  and  saving  our  supplies  of  coal  and  other 
fuels.  Third,  the  use  of  electricity  for  pumping  renders  it  possible  permanently 
to  reclaim  and  irrigate  vast  sections  of  our  arid  land  otherwise  impossible  of 
reclamation  or  irrigation.  Fourth,  its  extensive  development  will  cheapen  and 
extend  manufacturing  and  commerce,  thus  affording  an  immediate  home  market 
for  the  products  of  our  irrigated  farms  are  also  cheaper  transportation  to 
other  markets.  . 

RESOLVED,  That  the  necessary  right  of  way  and  rights  for  the  con- 
struction of  reservoirs,  and  of  uses  of  the  public  lands,  for  the  development  of 


208  REPORT    OF    PROCEEDINGS 

electric  power,  should  be  aided  and  encouraged  in  every  reasonable  way.  And 
no  burdensome  charges  or  discriminations  should  be  exacted  or  imposed,  as 
a  result  of  which  such  beneficial  developments  may  be  delayed  and  the  in- 
vestment of  capital  therein  prevented  and  the  cost  increased  to  the  con- 
sumer. Such  uses  being  public  uses  should  be  controlled  and  regulated  by 
the  state  or  nation,  as  the  situation  and  use  may   require. 

CLOSER    RELATIONS   BETWEEN   THE   I'MTED    STATES   AND    THE    LATIN- 
AMERICAN  REPL'HLICS. 

We  strongly  endorse  the  work  and  propaganda  of  the  International 
Bureau  of  American  Republics  in  Washington,  an  official  institution  supported 
by  the  twenty-one  American  Republics,  including  the  United  States,  and 
devoted  to  the  encouragement  of  Pan-American  commerce,  friendship  and 
peace.  We  congratulate  the  Honorable  Elihu  Root,  Secretary  of  State  of  the 
United  States,  on  the  policy  which  he  has  initiated  of  fostering  more  intimate 
relations  with  our  sister  American  Republics,  as  outlined  in  his  speech  before 
the  Trans-Mississippi  Commercial  Congress  at  Kansas  City,  in  1906,  and 
recommend  not  only  organized  effort  among  the  business  interests  of  the 
country  for  the  legitimate  commercial  development  of  this  Held,  but  legislation 
by  the  National  Congress  of  the  United  States  favorable  to  the  improvement 
of  steamship  and  mail  facilities  between  the  principal  ports  of  the  United 
States  and   these  Latin-American   countries. 

GOVERNMENT  STEAMSHIP  LINE  ALONG  THE  PACIFIC  COAST. 

Unless  assurance  of  improved  service  can  be  given  between  San  Francisco. 
Central  American  ports  and  Panama,  we  recommend  and  urge  the  United 
States  Government  to  establish  its  own  lines  between  all  important  Pacific 
Coast  ports  and  Panama,  calling  at  Central  American  ports,  thereby  giving 
us  a  through  Government-owned  line  via  Panama  from  the  Atlantic  to  the 
Pacific  seaboard. 

TRANSPORTATION   OF   PERISHABLE   FREIGHT. 

We  recommend  to  the  Congress  of  the  United  States  the  enactment  of  ade- 
quate laws  defining  the  duties  of  railroad  companies  with  respect  to  furnishing 
with  reasonable  promptness,  cars  for  the  transportation  of  freight  and  - 
pecially  perishable  freight  like  livestock,  fruit  and  vegetables,  and  to  require 
prompt  transportation  of  all  perishable  freight,  fixing  penalties  for  dis- 
obedience of  such  law,  and  empowering  the  Interstate  Commerce  Commission 
to  make  rules  and  regulations  concerning  the  same. 

TARIFF  RECIPROCITY. 

We  endorse  the  principles  of  reciprocity  to  the  end  that  tariff  schedules 
shall  be  made  so  adjustable  that  the  President  of  the  United  States  shall  be 
enabled  to  enter  into  reciprocal  trade  agreements  with  foreign  countries  which 
will  admit  to  the  widest  possible  market  consistent  with  the  maintenance 
of  the  industries  of  this  country,  the  products  of  our  country  and  its  manu- 
factures, and  that  in  the  event  of  the  establishment  of  a  minimum  schedule 
of  duties,  the  same  be  made  upon  a  truly  reciprocal  basis,  so  as  to  give 
opportunity  to  negotiate  commercial  agreements. 

GRAZING    ON    PUBLIC    LANDS. 

We  recommend  to  the  Congress  of  the  United  States  the  enactment  of 
laws  which  shall  reasonably  provide  for  the  regulation  of  the  use  of  the 
public  grazing  upon  the  public  lands  of  the  United  States,  with  a  view  to  a 
just  and  reasonable  apportionment  among  the  users  of  the  public  lands  so  as 
to  stimulate  and  encourage  the  improvement  of  the  grazing  and  providing 
water  and  other  improvements  subject  always  to  the  right  of  the  home- 
steading  and  other  acquisitions  of  title  to  the  lands  under  the  land  laws 
of  the  United  States;  and  that  the  rental  charged  for  the  use  >>f  the  grazing 
upon  such  lands  be  made  as  low  as  the  administration  of  the  law  will  permit, 
the  profits  to  accrue  as  nearly  as  may  be  to  the  localities  where  the  land  is 
situated   for   the  puhlie   school   purposes. 

PANAMA    CANAL. 

In  view  of  the  approaching  completion  of  the  Panama  ("anal,  every  har- 
bor of  the  Pacific  Coast  and  of  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  which  by  reasonable  ex- 
penditure can  be  made  practicable  for  ocean  commerce,  should  be  considered 
of  National  importance,  and  adequate  appropriations  and  continuing  contracts 
by  the  Federal  Government  for  increasing  the  number  and  enlarging  the  ca- 
pacity of  these  harbors,   is  recommended. 

PACIFIC    COAST    TRADES. 

RESOLVKD,  that  the  interdependence  of  the  Pacific  Coast  states  necessi- 
tates   united    action     in    efforts    to    secure    Federal    legislation     favoring    the 


TRANS-MISSISSIPPI    COMMERCIAL    CONGRESS  209 

harmonious  and   successful   expansion   of  Pacific  Coast  trade,   and   the  natural 
development  of  Coast  reserves. 

RESOLVED,  that  two  pressing-  needs  of  the  Pacific  Coast  admittedly  in- 
volving the  commercial  welfare  of  the  whole  country,  are  the  maintenance 
of  a  large  fleet  of  naval  vessels  in  Pacific  waters,  and  the  Federal  legislation 
that  will  stimulate  American  shipping  and  send  our  flag  into  every  foreign 
port. 

GEOLOGICAL,   SURVEY. 

RESOLVED  that  in  the  United  States  Geological  Survey  this  Nation  has  a 
bureau  that  has  and  is  gathering  absolute  necessary  data  of  inestimable  value 
that  is  required  in  the  study  of  the  best  methods  to  be  employed  in  bringing 
Into  the  highest  degree  and  usefulness  the  unlimited  natural  resources  of  the 
United    States. 

Further,  the  water  resources  branch  of  the  U.  S.  Geological  Survey  is 
requested  to  lend  its  aid  to  the  development  and  conservation  of  our  desert 
water  supplies,  giving  special  attention  to  their  -accurate  location,  main- 
tenance and  preservation,  and  to  the  preparation  of  maps  and  reports,'  and 
the  dissemination  of  information  about  them,  and  the  members  of  our  state 
and  National  Legislatures  are  urged  to  make  proper  provision  in  their  annual 
appropriation    bills    for   carrying    out    the    work    herein    outlined. 

NATIONAL    PARKS    AND    FOREST    RESERVES. 

We  favor  adequate  appropriations  for  the  construction  of  roads  and 
trails  in  National  Parks  and  Forest  Reserves,  not  only  as  a  means  of  trans- 
portation   and    communication,    but    as   a    preventive   against    forest    fires. 

We  favor  the  enactment  of  Federal  and  state  laws  which  will  compel 
persons  engaged  in  timber  or  lumber  operations  to  so  conduct  such  opera- 
tions that  the  rights  of  others  will  not  be  endangered;  and  we  recommend 
that  the  United  States  Forest  Service  shall  formulate  such  drafts  of  laws, 
and  the  same  shall  be  presented  at  the  next  session  of  Congress.  We  also 
suggest  to  the  State  Foresters  of  the  different  states  that  similar  laws  should 
be  presented  to  the  legislatures  when   next  in  session. 

INTERSTATE    COMMERCE. 

We  urge  upon  the  Congress  of  United  States  that  it  enact  an  amendment 
to  the  Interstate  commercial  law,  whereby  the  Interstate  Commerce  Com- 
mission may  at  its  discretion,  or  upon  proper  complaint,  suspend  advances  and 
freight  rates  or  changes  of  classification  before  they  become  effective,  pending 
an  investigation  as  to  their  reasonableness,  and  that  all  rates  be  submitted 
to   the    Commission   before   becoming   effective. 

AMERICAN   MERCHANT  MARINE. 

The  Congress  of  the  United  States  should,  at  its  next  session,  provide 
liberally  for  the  expansion  and  maintenance  of  the  American  merchant  ma- 
rine engaged  in  foreign  trade,  because  its  existing  condition  is  dangerous  to 
both  our  naval,  military  and  commercial  strength  and  national  progress.  We 
recommend  that  such  action  be  taken  at  once  before  greater  or  insuperable 
difficulties  present  themselves,  and  the  delegates  here  assembled  pledge  them- 
selves unitedly  to  urge  upon  their  respective  Senators  and  Representatives  in 
Congress  such  prompt  action  as  will  insure  the  supremacy  of  American 
shipping   and   thus    safeguard   National    defense    and   commerce. 

UNITED     STATES     PUHLIC    HEALTH    AND     MARINE    HOSPITAL     SERVICE. 

We  endorse  the  work  of  the  Public  Health  and  Marine  Hospital  Service 
and  desire  to  express  to  the  President,  the  Secretary  of  the  Treasury  and 
Surgeon-General  Wyman,  thanks  and  appreciation  for  their  efficient  services 
in  protecting  the  health  and  improving  the  sanitary  condition  of  the  Trans- 
Mississippi   country. 

ALASKA-YUKON-PACIFIC    EXPOSITION. 

We  earnestly  request  the  transcontinental  railroads  of  America  to  grant 
a  one-way  round-trip  rate  to  Seattle  during  the  Alaska-Yukon-Pacific  Expo- 
sition, in  order  that  the  people  of  the  country  may  have  every  opportunity  to 
become  acquainted  with  the  resources,  development  and  destiny  of  the  great 
West. 

GOOD    ROADS. 

The  enormous  cost  involved  in  the  transportation  of  farm  products  and 
other  materials  over  imperfect  roadways,  warrants  the  investment  of  large 
sums  by  the  National  and  state  governments,  to  encourage  the  construction 
and  aid  in  the  maintenance  of  improved  highways  to  reduce  that  cost;  and  this 
Congress  requests  such  attention  and  appropriations  by  the  Congress  of  the 
United  States,  and  by  the  legislatures  of  the  various  Trans-Mississippi  States, 
as  will  induce  the  construction  and  guarantee'  the  maintenance  of  permanent 


210  REPORT    OF    PROCEEDINGS 

thoroughfares,  and  such  legislation  as  will  compel  scientific  and  specialized 
engineering,  economic  administration,  strict  accounting  and  faithful  service 
in  this  very  important  public  utilty. 

INTERNATIONAL    FISHERIES. 

RESOLVED.  That  we  approve  the  work  of  the  International  Fisheries 
Commission,  and  of  the  efforts  of  the  National  Government  to  co-operate  with 
the  different  states  in  the  protection  and  propagation  of  fishes  in  the  inter- 
state  and    boundary   waters. 

PUBLIC    DOMAIN. 

RESOLVED,  That  the  rights  of  the  way  granted  by  the  Federal  Gov- 
ernment for  power  development  on  the  public  domain  should  be  conditional 
upon  continued  construction  work  in  good  faith  and  sincerity,  with  a  prompt 
completion  of  the  works  for  which  the  rights  are  requested. 

PHILIPPINES. 

We  recommend  to  the  American  people  a  more  thorough  study  of  the  op- 
portunity of  utilizing  the  vast  resources  of  the  Philippine  islands,  and  that 
the  Federal  Government  be  asked  to  facilitate  in  every  possible  way  legisla- 
tion for  such  a  revision  of  the  insular  public  land  and  tariff  laws  as  will  be 
conducive    to    the    economic   prosperity    of    the    Philippines. 

BUREAU   OP   MINES, 

We  heartily  endorse  the  movement  to  create  a  bureau  of  mines,  and  we 
urgently  urge  upon  the  Congress  of  the  United  States  that  a  law  on  that 
subject  be  enacted  at  the  earliest  day  possible  and  that  ample  appropriations 
be   provided   for   its   maintenance. 

NEW    MEXICO    AND    ARIZONA. 

We  urge  that  the  Congress  of  the  United  States,  at  its  next  session, 
take  the  preliminary  steps  providing  for  the  admission  into  the  Federal 
Union    as    separate    states    the    territories    of    New    Mexico    and    Arizona. 

INDIAN    LANDS. 

We  favor  the  removal  of  all  restrictions  upon  the  allottees  of  Indian  land 
within  the  limits  of  Oklahoma,  and  respectfully  request  of  the  Congress  of 
the  United  States  that  a  law  to  accomplish  this  be  adopted  during  the 
next  session. 

( Applause.) 

By   Vice-President   Pryor: 

You  have  heard  the  reading  of  the  resolution.  It  is  moved  and  seconded 
that  this  report  be  adopted  and  the  Committee  discharged.    Any  remarks? 

By  Honorable  George  C.  Pardee,  of  California: 

Before  that  motion  is  put,  here  is  a  resolution  which,  owing  to  various 
accidents,  was  not  read  in  the  Committee  on  Resolutions.  I  move  that  it 
be  added  to  the  report  of  the  Committee,  first  being  read  by  the  chairman 
of  the  Committee. 

TRKES. 

We  desire  to  express  our  appreciation  of  and  commend  the  greal  work 
being  promoted  by  the  Federation  of  Tree  Growing  Clubs  of  America  in  en- 
couraging  the   planting  of   trees   in   all    sections   of   our   country. 

By  Vice-President   Pryor: 

I  do  not  believe  this  is  in  order. 

By   Chairman    Harris: 

I  was  about  to  raise  the  point  of  order — not  against  the  resolution,  but 
its  presentation  at  this  time.  I  will  say,  as  chairman  of  the  Committee  on 
Resolutions,  that  so  far  as  I  am  personally  concerned,  I  will  stand  here 
this  morning  and  this  afternoon  and  possibly  tonight,  to  see  that  this  body 
shall  be  a  free  forum  for  discussion  and  every  man  have  a  voice  and  vote. 
I  further  explain  the  point  of  order  by  this:  I  am  personally  friendly  to 
Governor   Pardee's  motion,  and   I   think   it    should   not   be   presented  as  an 


TRANS-MISSISSIPPI    COMMERCIAL    CONGRESS  211 

addition  or  supplement  to  the  report  of  the  Committee  on  Resolutions.     1 
will  give  my  reasons  with  the  permission  of  the  Chair. 

By   Vice-President   Pryor: 
State   the   reasons. 

By   Chairman   Harris: 

We  followed  this  course  in  the  committee.  We  tried  out  such  resolu- 
tions as  practically  had  no  opposition  in  one  solid  report  that  they  might 
be  disposed  of  in  due  course  of  business  without  being  imperiled  by  having 
them  coupled  with  resolutions  that  might  meet  with  active  opposition. 
I  therefore  suggest  that  we  pursue  that  course  now. 

By  Mr.  Pardee: 

I  withdraw  my  motion,  to  be  made  at  a  later  time. 

By   Mr.  Chartz,  of  Nevada: 

I  ask  the  chairman  of  the  Committee  on  Resolutions  whether  the  matter 
that  was  informally  presented  to  your  committee  this  morning  at  the 
eleventh  hour,  relating  to  the  establishment  of  guideboards  and  water  places 
in  our  desert,  through  the  employees  of  the  government  of  the  United 
States,  was  included  in  your  report.  Many  a  man  has  lost  his  life  by  not 
rinding  water  in  our  deserts.  I  did  not  notice  that  that  was  in  your 
resolution. 

By  Chairman   Harris: 

I  can  answer  as  chairman  of  the  Resolutions  Committee  that  we  con- 
sidered nothing  precluded  from  consideration  by  this  body  because  of  the 
report  that  has  just  been  read.  Does  that  answer  the  gentleman  from 
California? 

By   Mr.   Burton,  of   Los  Angeles: 

Except  in  this:  I  handed  to  you  or  your  secretary  the  report  and  the 
resolutions  from  the  Chamber  of  Commerce  of  Los  Angeles. 

By  Mr.  Hart: 

That  is  included  under  the  head  of  Geological  Survey.  I  will  read  it 
over  again.     (Reads  same.) 

By  Mr.  Gosper,  of  Los  Angeles: 

I  wish  to  offer  a  resolution  on  Arizona. 

By  Vice-President   Pryor: 

We  will  not  accept  any  resolution  at  this  time. 

By  Mr.   Edward  Berwick,  of  California: 

I  want  to  ask,  sir,  whether  I  will  be  permitted  to  bring  up  a  resolution 
on  parcels  post  after  this  is  voted  on.  It  was  made  the  express  business  at 
10  o'clock. 

By   Vice-President    Pryor: 

If  you  get  the  floor,  I  will  try  to  recognize  you;  but  we  will  dispose 
of  this  now. 

By  Mr.   Hart: 

The  committee  will  present  after  this  a  special  report  on  the  parcels 
post  so  as  to  bring  it  before  the  house. 


212  REPORT    OF    PROCEEDINGS 

By  Vice-President   Pryor: 

You  have  heard  the  report  of  the  Committee  on  Resolutions  read.  It  is 
moved  and  seconded  that  the  report  as  read  be  adopted.     Any  remarks? 

By  a   Delegate: 

Question. 

(The  motion  was  thereupon  formally  presented  and  unanimously 
adopted.) 

By   Vice-President   Pryor: 

The  report  is  adopted,  and  I  t,ake  it  that  the  Resolutions  Committee  is 
now  discharged. 

By   Mr.    Hart: 

With  the  exception  of  the  report  on  the  parcels  post. 

By  Governor   Pardee: 

I  now  renew  the  motion  for  the  adoption  of  my  harmless  little 
resolution. 

By   Mr.  Gosper: 

I  second  the  motion. 

By  Vice-President  Pryor: 

You  have  heard  the  motion  read.  It  is  moved  and  seconded  that  this 
resolution  be  adopted. 

(The  motion  was  duly  carried.) 

Mr.  Gosper: 

I  also  appeared  before  the  committee  in  behalf  of  a  brief  resolution  on 
the  admission  of  Arizona  and  New  Mexico  as  states  in  the  next  Congress. 
I  would  like  to  offer  that  as  my  friend,  Governor  Pardee,  did. 

By   Chairman   Harris: 

I  rise  for  the  purpose  of  seconding  the  motion,  which  I  understand  is 
for  the  admission  of  Arizona  and  Mexico  as  states.  Living  in  the  sister 
state  of  Texas,  we  desire  to  see  them  represented  by  a  full-grown  five- 
pointed  star  in  the  flag. 

By  Secretary  Francis: 
(Reading.) 

"RESOLVED,  That  the  Congress  of  the  United  States  should  at  its  next 
session  take  the  proper  preliminary  step  providing  for  the  admission  of  the 
territories  of  Arizona  and  New  Mexico  into   the  great  sisterhood   of  states." 

This  is  offered  by  Mr.  J.  J.  Gosper,  of  Los  Angeles,  Cal. 

By   Mr.   Hart: 

I   move   to   insert   the   words,   "as   separate   states.*' 

By   Mr.   Gosper: 

I  intended  to  put  that  in.     It  was  omitted  through  mistake. 
(The  motion  was  formally  presented  and  carried.) 

By   Vice-President   Pryor: 

With  respecl  to  the  parcels  post? 

By   Mr.   Berwick,  of  California: 

There  is  to  be  a  secondary  report  of  the  Committee  on  Resolutions,  I 


TRANS-MISSISSIPPI    COMMERCIAL    CONGRESS  213 

understand.     If  not,  I  will  hand  in  my  substitute  resolution  and  ask  that 
the  secretary  read  it  and  that  I  be  allowed  a  moment  or  two  to  speak  on  it. 

By  Vice-President  Pryor: 

This  is  out  of  order  until  the  regular  report  is  presented. 

By  Mr.  Berwick: 

I  will  await  the  reading  of  the  report  then. 

THE  PARCELS  POST. 

By    Mr.    L.    E.    Pin  khnm,    Honolulu,    Chairman    Sub-Committee    (reading) : 

Resolution  No.  1 — Relating  to  the  parcels  post  and  approving  a  proposal 
for  a  reduction  of  rates  of  postage  on,  and  an  increase  of  the  limit  of  the 
weight  of  packages  permissible  for  transmission  by  mail,  received  the  atten- 
tion   of   the   Sub-Committee    on    Postal    Laws    and   Transportation. 

The  Sub-Committee  recommended  the  disapproval  of  this  resolution  by  the 
Committee  on  Resolutions. 

The  resolution  was  disapproved  as  recommended. 

The  grounds  upon  which  the  Sub-Committee  advised  disapproval,  are  as 
follows: 

At  present  every  part  of  the  United  States  and  its  possessions  are  provided 
with  just  and  reasonable  parcels  post  facilities  sufficient  to  meet  all  reason- 
able  requirements. 

There  is  no  limit  to  the  number  of  four-pound  packages  that  may  be  sent 
by  mail. 

The  rates  of  postage  established  are  low,  barely  covering  cost  calculated 
on  the  most  favorable  basis  for  the  sender. 

When  distance  and  area  are  considered,  the  present  rates  are  but  a  frac- 
tion of  those  charged  by  Great  Britain,  Germany  and  Belgium.  Distances  in 
these  countries  are  so  limited  they  are  not  to  be  logically  compared  with  those 
of  the  United  States. 

The  average  parcels  post  distance  on  business  originating  in  London  is 
forty-five  miles,  while  the  average  of  that  originating  in  Chicago  is  869  miles. 

When  population  is  considered,  the  United  States  Government  at  this 
moment  is  infinitely  more  liberal  than  the  countries  mentioned,  for  they  serve 
a  congested  population  of  550  persons  per  square  mile  in  England,  300  in  Ger- 
many and  600  in  Belgium,  against  twenty-five  per  square  mile  in  the  United 
States. 

That  congested  population  can  be  served  at  strikingly  less  cost  than 
diffused  populations,  cannot  be  for  one   instant  disputed. 

The  total  length  of  English  postal  routes  is  4,300  miles;  of  the  United 
States  over  530,000  miles. 

In  these  limited  area  countries  destinations  are  reached  in  very  short 
periods  of  time,  usually  a  very  few  hours,  while  the  parcels  post  of  the  United 
States  reaches  to  five  or  six  days  within  its  own  mainland  borders,  and  four  to 
six  weeks  to  its  outlying  areas. 

Thus  these  small  countries  are  able  to  conduct  their  parcels  post  business 
at  acceptable  speed  to  the  receivers  by  use  of  freight  vans  moved  in  slow,  low 
class  trains. 

In  America  mails  take  precedence  and  must  be  carried  on  the  speediest 
express  passenger  trains. 

These  American  trains  have  about  reached  the  limit  as  to  cars  that  can  be 
handled  in  one  train  at  the  speed  the  public  demands. 

To  greatly  increase  the  parcels  post  traffic  would  mean  the  delay  and 
discomfort  of  travel  and  less  speed  on  trains  for  mail  traffic. 

There  can  be  no  question  but  the  allowance  of  a  parcel  within  a  trifle  of 
three  times  the  present  limit  of  weight  and  a  reduction  of  rates  will  vastly 
increase  the  range  of  commodities  transported  by  mail,  in  fact  the  increase  of 
mail  order  business  could  hardly  fail  to  be  beyond  present  comprehension. 

One  single  Chicago  mail-order  house  did  a  business  last  year  of 
$53,285,000.00.  To  pay  them  would  require  the  total  realization  of  the  state 
of  California  from  its  citrus,  deciduous,  vine  and  nut  products.  California 
calls  the  world  to  wonder,  but  looks  rather  small  when  she  could  thus  support 
but  one  mail-order  house. 

All  this  on  the  present  parcels  post  four-pound  limit  and  sixteen-cent  rate. 

What  will  be  the  result  with  an  eleven-pound  limit  and  a  twelve-cent 
rate? 

The  moment  the  Government  of  the  United  States  promotes  such  a  vast 
increase  it  will  not  only  have  gone  into  unlimited  merchandise  transportation, 


I'll  REPORT    OF  PROCEEDINGS 

but    will    have    formed   an   alliance   with    the   great    centralization    of   merchan- 
dising capital   located   in  a  very  few  metropolitan   cith  s. 

It  will  use  its  enormous  power  to  aid  a  few  overshadowing  mail-order 
houses  againsl  the  local  merchant,  and  against  the  prosperity  of  little  cities, 
towns  and  villages. 

Reliable  authorities  state  in  nine  European  parcels  post  countries  the 
rural   villages  have  been  practically  ruined  for  .trade. 

No1  only  will  the  Government  use  its  irresistible  power  to  advance  tie- 
interests  of  these  great  houses,  hut  under  the  proposed  conditions  and  rates 
it  will  be  obliged  to  draw  from  the  public  treasury  vast  sums  for  equipment 
and  i"  make  up  an  enormous  deficit  which  represents  no  saving  for  the  patrons 
of  these  houses,  hut  the  profits  to  these  houses  the  Government  sees  fit  to 
extract  from  the  people  at  large  for  the  special  heneiii  of  those  who  are  not 
logically  <>i'  justly  entitled  to  it. 

This  is  hack  action  paternalism  of  which  we  already  have  had  enough. 

The  statements  that  certain  reductions  proposed  in  behalf  of  a  local 
dealer  would  aid  him  are  certainly  a  most  audacious  fallacy  to  mislead  opposi- 
tion   to   these   measures. 

The  territory  supplied  by  a  local  dealer  is  limited. 

Wherever  a  rural  United  States  mail  delivery  exists,  carriers  are  permitted 
to  serve  both  the  inhabitants  and  dealers  on  their  route  at  no  charge  if  he  sees 
lit.  or  such  a  charge  as  may  be  agreed  upon,  all  provided  the  package  exceeds 
four  pounds  in    weight. 

No  local  merchant  or  his  patrons  will  find  any  inducements  in  a  postal 
package  rate  equalling  $56.00  per  long  ton. 

The  local  dealer  in  his  relations  with  his  customers  is  possibly  all  right 
now.  and  all  he  asks  is  to  be  let  alone  and  that  the  Government  cease  dis- 
criminating against  him. 

Again  the  local  dealer  could  in  no  conceivable  way  get  his  Imprint  on  a 
catalogue  that   would  compete  with  those  sent  out  by   these  mail-order  houses. 

It  may  be  claimed  simply  the  law  of  competition  is  being  involved. 

It  is  not  competition  but  elimination  to  the  greatest  degree  possible  that 
is  sought;  elimination  not  by  fair  competition,  but  by  invoking  Government 
aid  at  the  risk  and  expense  of  the  American  people  at  large. 

It  is  the  local  merchant  who  sustains  the  local  newspaper,  and  in  the 
larger  cities  the  great   daily  and  Sunday  papers. 

These  nihil  order  houses  support  in  no  degree  the  public  press:  they  adver- 
tise to  no  extent.  They  catalogue.  Whom  may  be  their  printer,  we  do  not 
know:  possibly    they    may    own   their    own   presses. 

It  seems  to  this  Committee  that  the  promoters  of  this  scheme,  whether 
they  realize  it  or  not,  will  find  in  the  end.  if  they  are  successful,  that  they  have 
forced  a  one-sided  partnership  between  the  Government  of  the  United 
States  and  the  mail-order  houses,  in  which  the  Government  takes  all  the 
cha  nces. 

The  ultimate  effect  must  be  that  of  injuring  the  village  and  the  village 
merchant,  the  town  and  the  town  merchant,  the  nearby  city  and  the  nearby 
city    merchant,    and    even    the    merchant    of    important    cities. 

To  the  agriculturist  and  others  who  look  only  to  small  sums  saved  by 
greater  patronage  of  mail-order  houses  in  great  centers,  he  may  find  himself 
the  loser  in  the  end  in  the  absence  of  his  merchant  friends  and  decay  of  his 
village,  the  centfer  of  his  social,  educational  and  religious  privileges,  all  tend 
ing  to  the  disadvantage  of  his  children,  to  depreciation  of  his  property  and 
general  lowering  of  country  life. 

While  this  Sub-Committee  believes  in  free  and  equal  competition,  it  does 
not  believe  the  Government  of  the  United  States  has  a  right  to  extend  its 
favors,  legitimate  in  a  limited  degree,  to  a  point  and  magnitude  that  are  de- 
structive to  vast  numbers,  if  not  the  majority  of  its  citizens. 

To  the  degree  of  partnership  with  concentrated  capital  involved  in  the 
proposed  enlargement  of  the  parcels  post  we  protest,  and  recommend  Resolu- 
tion No.   l   be  disapproved  of.     (Applause.-) 


L.  E.    PINKHAM, 

KMMKTT   DUNN. 


By  Vice-President  Pryor: 

You  have  heard  the  resolution  read. 


By  Mr.  Burton,  of  Los  Angeles: 

I  iliink  in  order  to  get  that  before  the  Congress  in  proper  shape,  a 
motion  is  necessary.  As  the  sub-committee  did  not  move  the  adoption  of 
their  suppli  mental  report,  I  move  now,  sir.  to  you,  the  adoption  of  this 
supplemental  report  as   just  read  by   the   sub-committee. 


TRANS-MISSISSIPPI    COMMERCIAL    CONGRESS  215 

A  Delegate: 

I  second  the  motion. 

By  Vice-President  Pryor: 

It  is  moved  and  seconded  that  this  report  designated  as  a  supplemental 
report  of  the  parcels  post  committee  be  adopted. 

By   Mr.   Hart: 

I  would  suggest  that  the  word  "supplemental"  be  changed  to  "un- 
favorable." ! 

By  Chairman   Harris: 

I  rise  on  a  matter  of  inquiry.  I  desire  to  be  advised  of  the  parliamentary 
attitude  on  this  point.  I  understand  that  the  committee  has  read  an  adverse 
report  which  report  was  opposed  by  the  gentlemen  from  California.  Am 
I  correctly  advised  about  that,  Mr.  Berwick? 

By  Mr.  Berwick: 

Yes. 

By  Chairman   Harris: 

I  am  then  confronted  with  a  motion  by  the  gentleman  from  California 
to  move  to  approve  and  adopt  the  report  of  the  committee. 

By  Mr.  Burton: 

I  made  that  motion. 

By   Chairman    Harris: 

You  two  gentlemen  look  so  good  to  me  that  I  mistake  one  for  the 
other.  I  was  astounded  at  the  motion  as  I  conceived  that  it  came  from 
Brother  Berwick. 

By  Mr.  Berwick: 

I  wish  to  inquire  also,  sir;  I  want  at  this  moment,  if  you  will  permit 
me,  to  apologize  for  any  wrong  committed  by  me  yesterday.  I  had  no  wish 
to  infringe  on  anybody's  parliamentary  rights.  If  I  did  wrong,  sir,  I  apologize. 
I  ask  now  what  is  the  right  course  for  me  to  pursue.  I  wish  to  bring  in  a 
new  resolution  sometime  in  place  of  the  one  rejected,  and  I  would  like  to 
speak  a  moment  if  I  may  regarding  whatever  this  report  may  be  about. 

By   Chairman   Harris: 

I  suggest  that  Mr.  Berwick,  the  author  of  the  resolution,  has  a  perfect 
right  to  send  that  up  after  the  pending  motion  is  disposed  of.  The  motion 
now  is  to  approve  the  report  of  the  committee. 

By  Vice-President  Pryor: 

And  Mr.  Berwick  wants  to  substitute  this  for  the  report. 

By  Chairman   Harris: 

If  he  wants  to  offer  a  substitute  that  would  be  in  order. 

By   Vice-President  Pryor: 

I  think  that  would  be  the  proper  way,  and  if  the  substitute  is  voted 
down,  this  comes  to  a  vote. 

By  Mr.  Berwick: 

I  would  ask  that  this  be  read  and  that  I  then  be  given  an  opportunity 
to  speak  on  it. 


216 


REPORT    OF  PROCEEDINGS 


By   Vice-President   Pryor: 

You  may  have  three  minutes  in  explanation  of  this  motion. 

By  Secretary  Francis: 

(Reading.) 

I  move  to  substitute,  for  present  consideration,  the  following  resolution 
on  parcels  post  in  place  of  the  one  reported  on  adversely  by  the  Committee 
on  Resolutions: 

WHEREAS,  All  improvements  in  methods,  and  lessening  of  the  cost,  of 
production  and  transportation  tend  to  enlarge  the  boundaries  and  increase 
the  volume  of  commerce,   and 

WHEREAS,  Postmaster-General  Meyer  has  proposed  to  reduce  the  rate 
per  pound  on  parcels  sent  through  the  domestic  mails  from  sixteen  to  twelve 
cents  per  pound;  to  increase  the  maximum  rate  from  four  to  eleven  pounds, 
and  also  to  permit  packages  to  be  carried  on  all  rural  free  delivery  routes 
from  their  initial  point  to  any  other  point  on  the  same  route  at  the  rate  of 
five  cents  for  the  first  pound  and  two  cents  additional  for  every  pound  added 
up  to  eleven  pounds;  be  it 

RESOLVED,  That  this  Congress  heartily  endorses  the  Postmaster- 
General's  recommendation  and  urges  on  the  United  States  Congress  to  take 
the    necessarv    steps    to    make    these    recommendations    effective. 

EDWARD   BERWICK, 
President  of  the  Postal  Progress  League  of  California. 

By   Vice-President   Pryor: 

I  want  to  correct  one  thing.  You  only  have  three  minutes  in  presenting 
resolutions  before  they  go  to  the  committee,  but  you  have  ten  minutes  in 
addressing  the  Convention. 

By   Postmaster   Fisk,  of   San    Francisco: 

I  understand  that  that  ten  minutes  is  limited  to  the  proponent  in 
favor  of  his  resolution? 

By   Vice-President   Pryor: 

Yes.  He  has  only  ten  minutes,  and  he  has  one  reply  of  five  minutes. 
No  other  man  can  have  more  than  five  minutes. 

By   Mr.   Fisk: 

As  the  accredited  representative  of  the  Postoffice  Department,  it 
seems  to  me  that  it  is  unfair  to  limit  me  to  five  minutes  in  a  matter  of  this 
importance,  while  the  report  took  twenty  minutes  to  read,  the  committee's 
report  being  almost  wholly  argument. 

By   Vice-President   Pryor: 

Those  are  our  rules  and  by-laws. 

By  Mr.  Fisk: 

Unanimous  consent  may  permit  me  to  say  a  few  words  in  favor  of  the 
resolution  of  Mr.  Berwick. 

By  Colonel  John   P.   Irish,  of  California: 

I  am  opposed  to  the  parcels  post  proposition,  but  I  believe  in  absolute 
fair  play.  Mr.  Fisk  is  the  postmaster  of  San  Francisco;  he  represents 
a  great  department  of  thi^s  Government;  and  when  Mr.  Berwick  shall  have 
completed  his  speech,  I  move  the  unanimous  consent  of  this  body  for  Mr. 
Fisk  to  have  ten  minutes  in  which  to  advocate  the  parcels  post. 

By  Mr.   Berwick: 

I  second  the  motion. 


TRANS-MISSISSIPPI    COMMERCIAL    CONGRESS  217 

By  Mr.  Chartz,  of  Nevada: 

He  has  asked  for  unanimous  consent.  I  am  willing  to  grant  ten  minutes 
to  that  side,  if  the  other  side  is  also  granted  ten  minutes.  If  not,  I  will 
oppose  unanimous  consent. 

By  Vice-President   Pryor: 

It  takes  unanimous  consent  in  this  vote. 

By   Major  Gove,  of  Colorado: 

I  move  to  amend  that  motion,  that  both  sides  have  ten  minutes  to 
reply  to  the  postmaster  of  San  Francisco. 

By  Vice-President   Pryor: 

We  are  going  to  kill  a  lot  of  time  here. 

By    Mr.    Blanchard: 

In  what  does  this  resolution,  which  he  now  introduces,  vary  from  the 
one  which  he  sent  to  the  committee? 

By  Vice-President   Pryor: 

He  can  state  that  in  his  ten  minutes,  but  he  must  take  part  of  his  ten 
minutes  to  do  it. 

By   Mr.  Berwick: 
I  will  do  so. 

By  Vice-President  Pryor: 

Wait  a  minute.    I  have  got  to  put  a  motion. 

By  Chairman   Harris: 

There  is  no  such  motion  known  to  parliamentary  law  as  a  motion  for 
unanimous  consent.  It  cannot  be  entertained  by  the  Chair,  because  it  is 
an  unknown  proceeding.  You  cannot  put  a  motion  which  can  be  defeated 
by  one  vote.  I  am  in  favor  of  Brother  Fisk  having  ten  minutes,  but  the  way 
to  get  it  is  when  he  gets  the  floor. 

By  Vice-President   Pryor: 

I  stand  corrected.    You  can  have  the  floor,  Mr.  Berwick. 

By    Mr.    Berwick: 

Mr.  Chairman  and  gentlemen  of  the  Trans-Mississippi  Commercial  Con- 
gress: I  am  amazed.  To  me  it  is  incomprehensible,  incredible,  that  in  this 
nineteenth  century — 

By   Colonel   John   P.   Irish: 

Twentieth  century.     (Laughter.) 

REMARKS      OF      EDWARD      BERWICK.      PRESIDENT      OF      THE      POSTAL 

LEAGUE. 
By  Mr.  Berwick,  of  California: 

I  am  behind  the  times — twentieth  century.  I  am  amazed  that  a  conven- 
tion for  purposes  of  commerce,  gentlemen  from  all  parts  of  the  Trans-Missis- 
sippi country,  should  come  here  and  decline  a  boon  proffered  them  by  their 
own  Government,  a  boon  that  grants  them  virtually  a  decrease  of  transporta- 
tion rates.  I  could  understand  the  adverse  case,  I  could  understand  their  ob- 
jecting to  a  raise  of  rates.  But  objecting  to  a  decrease  of  transportation 
rates  to  me  is  entirely  incomprehensible  and  incredible.  I  hear  years  ago — 
you  hear  it  too — that  when  the  first  steamer  crossed  the  Atlantic  she  con- 
tained in  her  hold  a  voluminous  treaty.     This  action  of  this  committee   to  me 


218  REPORT    OF    PROCEEDINGS 

is  on  a  par  with  that  treaty — it  is  behind  the  times.  I  may  speak  of  the 
nineteenth  century  or  the  twentieth  century,  but  that  sort  of  tiling-  belongs 
exactly  to  the  first  century.  I  can  only  believe  it  true  on  the  ground  that 
they  misunderstood  or  misapprehended,  as  I  know  they  did.  the  scope  of  this 
proposal.  The  proposal  simply  calls  for  the  reduction  from  sixteen  cents  to 
twelve  cents  on  the  rate  on  parcels  or  packages  going  through  the  mails.  I 
think  that  is  plain — from  sixteen  to  twelve  cents.  As  I  told  you  the  other 
day,  foreign  parcels  can  be  sent  already  to  Great  Britain  or  Japan  and  other 
places  for  twelve  cents  per  pound,  while  you  are  paying  sixteen  cents  per 
pound  from  here  to  Oakland  or  any  other  pari  of  the  Union.  That  was  not 
understood  by  members  of  that  resolution  committee.  1  know,  because  they 
have  told  me  so  since:  they  were  under  a  misapprehension  regarding  it.  They 
brought  forward  talk  of  mail-order  houses  being  benefited  by  this  new  regu- 
lation, because  they  could  send  their  catalogues  through  the  mails  better 
then.  They  did  not  even  realize  that  already  those  catalogues  come  through 
on  third-class  mail  rates,  at  one  cent  for  two  ounces — less  than  the  rate 
General  Meyer  proposes.  They  already  come  through,  gentlemen,  for  eight 
cents  per  pound,  while  this  resolution  calls  for  twelve  cents  per  pound.  That 
invalidates   that   part  of  the  argument. 

The  second  part  of  this  improvement  of  General  Meyer's  is  that  instead  of 
sending  only  four-pound  packages  through  the  mail  you  can  send  eleven- 
pound  packages  through  the  mail.  I  think  that  spaaks  for  itself,  so  that  you 
all  understand  it — the  limit  is  increased  from  four  pounds  to  eleven  pounds. 
That   is  all   plain. 

The  third  improvement  is  that  you  can  send  on  rural  free  delivery  routes, 
from  the  initial  points  of  those  routes  to  any  point  on  those  routes,  parcels 
up  to  eleven  pounds  weight  at  a  charge  of  five  cents  for  the  first  pound,  and 
two  cents  for  every  succeeding  pound.  Do  you  all  understand  that?  If  any- 
body does  not.  T  wish  he  would  hold  up  his  hand.  Then,  you  all  understand 
that   as   being  plain,   straightforward    information. 

Now,  gentlemen.  I  am  here  to  speak  for  classes  that  do  not  get  heard 
here  always.  I  am  here  to  speak  for  the  man  up  in  the  Sierras,  wrestling 
with  Mother  Nature  to  get  at  her  hidden  treasures.  I  am  here  to  speak  for 
the  man  on  the  arid  plains  that  you  wish  to  irrigate,  toiling  heart  and  soul 
to  make  that  desert  blossom  as  the  rose.  I  am  here  to  speak  for  the  wood- 
man whose  axe  rings  in  the  forest  primeval,  and  for  the  fishermen  toiling  on 
your  bays  and  rivers  to  gather  the  harvest  of  the  sea.  They  all  want  these 
increased  facilities  of  the  parcels  post.  If  they  are  not  merchants,  they  have 
the  sense  to  see  that  any  reduction  in  the  rate  of  transportation  benefits  all 
classes.  Every  man  in  this  house — every  man.  woman  and  child  in  this  coun- 
try is  benefited  by  the  reduction  of  transportation  rates.  The  great  Macaulay 
years  ago  said,  "Barring  the  invention  of  the  lifeboat  and  the  printing  press, 
there  is  nothing  that  has  done  so  much  to  further  the  progress  of  mankind 
than  inventions  which  have  tended  to  bridge  distance."  This  parcels  post 
tends  to  bridge  distance,  and  helps  merchants  and  helps  everybody  every- 
where. 

Gentlemen,  to  show  you  how  little  difference  it  makes  in  the  mail:  There 
has  been  a  reduction  lately  to  two  cents  for  letters  to  England,  and  to  twelve 
cents  a  pound  for  parcels,  and  no  one  notices  much  difference  in  the  business 
of   the   Postoffice. 

As  to  this  nonsense  of  stuffing  the  mail.  I  am  reminded  of  Rowland  Hill. 
When  he  first  spoke  of  penny  letter  postage  in  England  he  was  derided 
1  dare  say  if  they  had  had  congresses  they  would  have  opposed  him.  A 
noble  lord  came  down  even  and  said.  "Gentlemen,  if  you  adopt  this  measure 
that  this  man  proposes  you  will  have  your  postoffice  simply  bursting  with 
letters,  the  walls  will  fall  apart."  AYas  this  not  the  same  argument  as  the 
commercial   gentlemen   have  advanced   here? 

Mr.  Chairman,  my  time  has  nearly  expired  and  I  do  not  want  to  trans- 
gress. There  are  people  here  who  will  say  it  will  come — all  things  come. 
I 'id  you  ever  know  an  orchard  to  emu,.?  No.  not  unless  somebody  planted  it. 
Did  you  ever  know  a  lions.'  to  gel  built — to  come,  unless  somebody  built  it? 
No  improvement  comes  unless  you  people  work  for  it.  And  1  want  to  have 
all  of  you  change  your  minds  come  to  your  right  minds,  and  go  home  and 
work   tooth   anil   nail    for  an   up-to-date   parcels  post.      (Applause.) 

By    Colonel    Irish: 

Do  you  want  the  floor  now,  Mr.  Fisk? 

By  Mr.  Fisk: 

I  presume  the  opposition  wants  its  ten  minutes. 


TRANS-MISSISSIPPI    COMMERCIAL    CONGRESS  219 

By   Col.  Irish: 

I  want  to  say  a  few  words  against  the  proposition.  It  seems  to  me  that 
this  should  be  called  a  proposition  to  transfer,  as  far  as  we  Californians  are 
concerned,  the  retail  trade  now  carried  on  through  the  various  commercial 
organizations  and  men  in  California,  in  our  cities  and  in  our  rural  centers 
of  trade — to  transfer  the  retail  trade  of  California  from  our  own  merchants, 
who  maintain  our  institutions  and  help  pay  our  taxes,  to  the  mail-order 
houses  of  Chicago,  who  have  no  interest  in  our  institutions  and  pay  none  of 
our  taxes.      (Applause.) 

A  proposition  of  this  kind  should  be  studied  in  others  of  its  aspects  than 
cheap  transportation  furnished  by  the  Government  of  the  United  States,  which 
will  increase  the  annual  deficiency  of  our  postal  establishment,  to  be  paid 
out  of  the  pockets  of  the  taxpayers  of  this  country.  We  should  consider  the 
economics  and  the  social  effects  which  will  follow  the  certain  abolition  of 
every  rural  village  of  trade  and  social  standing.  (Applause.)  The  country 
merchants,  the  man  who  ministers  to  the  wants  of  his  neighbors,  who  gives 
them  their  credit  which  they  need  between  seed  time  and  harvest,  the  man 
who  pays  the  taxes,  who  maintains  the  community  institutions — the  schools 
and  the  churches — he  will  be  abolished  by  this  proposition.  And  the  trade 
which  now  goes  to  him,  to  give  him  a  small  profit,  will  go,  as  I  say,  to  the 
large  mail-order  houses  of  the  Bast.  We  should  consider,  then,  the  economic 
and  the  social  effect  upon  our  rural  communities  of  a  proposition  of  this  kind. 

As  I  have  said,  so  far  as  the  cheapening  of  transportation  is  concerned, 
the  adoption  of  the  proposition  will  cause  deficits  which  will  have  to  be  made 
up  by  appropriations  passed  by  Congress  and  taken  from  the  pockets  of  the 
taxpayers  of  this  country.  I  am  opposed  to  this  method  of  diverting  trade 
from  its  proper  and  natural  local  centers.  1  am  opposed  to  this  proposition, 
which  will  practically  abolish  the  much-needed  and  small  trade  and  social 
centers  that  are  so  much   resorted  to   by  our  rural   population.      (Applause.) 

By  Governor  Bickards,  Montana: 

I  wish  to  say  a  word  or  two  and  will  not  occupy  much  of  your  time.  I  am 
in  favor  of  this  measure  because  I  believe  it  is  a  matter  that  is  wanted  and 
needed.  I  wish  I  could  agree  with  my  venerable  friend,  Colonel  Irish,  but  1 
recall,  when  I  was  a  young  man.  having  heard  the  same  argument  used  on  the 
eastern  shore  of  Maryland  and  the  state  of  Delaware,  when  John  Wanamaker 
was  trying  to  start  a  department  store  in  the  city  of  Philadelphia.  The  rural 
and  country  merchants  went  so  far  as  to  boycott — although  that  word  had  not 
been  invented  then — the  country  newspapers  who  were  inserting  John  Wana- 
maker's  advertisements.  And  yet  I  stand  before  you  today  to  assert  without 
fear  of  contradiction  that  there  are  as  many  country  stores,  rural  stores  today, 
as  there  were  before  the  wonderful  success  that  was  achieved  by  John  Wana- 
maker's  matchless  energy.  (Applause.)  Mr.  Irish's  appeal  was  simply  to  the 
delegation,  it  seems  to  me,  from  the  state  of  California.  I  want  to  remind 
you  that  the  members  of  this  Trans-Mississippi  Commercial  Congress  represent 
more  than  the  state  of  California;  they  represent  the  Trans-Mississippi  region; 
and  if  I  believed  for  one  minute  that  his  argument  was  unanswerable,  he 
might  have  convinced  me,  but  as  I  said  in  the  beginning  of  my  remarks,  l 
stand  today  before  you  to  plead  that  this  Commercial  Congress — its  object 
being  to  crystallize  public  sentiment  in  favor  of  all  measures  that  tend  to  the 
uplifting  and  the  betterment  of  the  people — that  they  endorse  this  movement. 
(Applause.) 

It  has  been  said  that  the  Federal  officeholders  are  behind  this  measure. 
The  best  refutation  that  can  be  given  to  that  assertion  is  that  my  venerable 
friend,  Colonel  Irish,  is  opposed  to  it.      (Laughter.) 

If  that  argument  prevailed — I  am  not  here  to  advance  a  counter-argument 
of  that  kind,  however — it  is  a  significant  fact  that  the  representatives  of  our 
railroads  and  our  express  companies  are  opposed  to  this  measure.     (Applause.) 

I  say  I  am  firmly  of  the  opinion,  having  been  in  favor  of  this  measure 
for  a  long  time,  that  the  people  not  only  are  asking  for  it,  but  that  they  need 
it  One  word  more  and  I  am  done.  We  saw  a  few  <3ays  ago  in  the  city  of 
Denver  the  same  argument  advanced  at  the  Bankers'  Association  against  our 
Postal  tanks.  Now,  gentlemen,  the  profit  nerve  is  a  sensitive  one.  1  recognize 
that  but  there  are  more  than  one  pocket  and  nerve  interested  in  this  measure 
The  pocket  nerve  of  the  consumer,  the  pocket  nerve  of  the  men,  as  Mr.  Berwick 
aptly  said,  are  in  the  fastnesses  of  our  mountains,  and  on  the  plains.  They 
want  this  measure.  It  will  not  hurt  the  merchants  of  San  Francisco,  it  will 
not  injure  the  merchants  in  Sacramento,  or  in  any  other  center  of  population: 
and  I  am  not  prepared  to  believe  that  it  will  hurt  very  much  the  crossroads 
merchant.     The  people  want  it;  the  people  are  demanding  it.     (Applause.) 


220  REPORT    OF    PROCEEDINGS 

By  Postmaster  Fisk,  of  San  Francisco: 

Mr.  President  and  Gentlemen  of  this  Convention:  It  seems  to  me  that  the 
Sub-Committee  which  considered  this  matter  has  overlooked  the  important 
feature.  It  does  not  seem  to  me  possible  that  this  body,  this  Congress,  with  its 
reputation  and  well-known  influence,  can  afford  to  go  on  record  as  opposed  to 
a  reduction  in  the  postal  rates  in  this  country.     (Applause.) 

Some  eleven  years  ago  the  rural  free  delivery  route  was  established. 
The  same  arguments  that  are  being  offered  today  by  the  opponents  of  this  reso- 
lution were  advanced  at  that  time.  "We  were  told  of  the  tremendous  cost  to 
the  Government;  we  were  told  that  the  small  dealers  would  be  driven  out  of 
business.  There  are  today,  after  eleven  years,  forty  thousand  rural  delivery 
post  routes,  and  over  twenty  million  people  are  being  served  today  by  them. 
The  farmer,  the  bone  and  sinew  of  this  country,  is  getting  his  magazine  and 
his  daily  paper  the  same  as  you  do  in  the  city.  He  is  getting  his  correspond- 
ence with  his  friends  every  day  the  same  as  you  are.  And  it  seems  to  me 
that  when  we  now  come  forward  and  offer,  not  only  to  extend  the  postal 
facilities,  but  to  establish  on  these  routes  an  opportunity  for  that  farmer  and 
the  small  dealer  to  benefit  and  to  build  up  his  business,  I  cannot  understand 
how  a  body  of  this  kind  can  afford  to  go  on  record  as  opposed  to  that.  (Ap- 
plause.) 

As  an  example,  let  me  point  out,  if  I  can,  the  inconsistencies  and  the  in- 
congruities of  the  present  law.  We  have  a  parcels  post  in  this  country  today. 
The  rate  per  pound  is  sixteen  cents.  We  have  parcels  post  conventions  with 
some  thirty-two  or  forty  other  countries.  If  any  of  you  gentlemen  come  to 
the  postoffice  in  San  Francisco  today  with  two  packages,  each  weighing  four 
pounds,  one  to  be  sent  to  Oakland,  across  the  bay,  some  seven  miles,  the  rate 
is  fifty-six  cents;  the  other  to  go  to  Germany  or  England,  or  India,  and  the 
cost  is  forty-eight  cents.  If  you  come  tomorrow  with  two  packages  each 
weighing  four  and  a  half  pounds,  the  package  that  is  to  go  to  Germany  or 
India  is  sent  through  New  York,  notwithstanding  it  may  weigh  anywhere  from 
four  to  eleven  pounds;  the  other  package,  weighing  four  and  a  half  pounds,  I 
must  refuse,  and  tell  you  that  we  cannot  accept  it.  But  you  go  down  to  the 
express  company  with  that  package  and  the  rate  you  will  find  for  four  and  a 
half  pounds  is  immeasurably  greater  in  proportion  than  the  rate  for  less  than 
four  pounds,  which  we  will  take  and  carry  to  almost  any  part  of  the  world. 
(Applause.)  The  express  companies  are  the  people  who  are  opposed  to  the 
raise  in  weight. 

I  listened  with  a  great  deal  of  attention  to  a  lecture  the  other  night  about 
the  twenty-five  millions  of  acres  that  were  going  to  be  reclaimed,  and  of  the 
six  or  eight  hundred  thousand  acres  already  reclaimed,  and  of  the  small  homes 
that  were  to  be  filled,  and  I  said  to  myself,  "There  is  where  the  rural  delivery 
service  is  going  to  make  those  homes  and  bring  them  in  close  to  the  big  city." 
And  I  thought  to  myself  how  important  this  recommendation  of  the  Post- 
master-General  is. 

He  made  two  recommendations:  First,  for  a  general  reduction  of  the  rate 
from  sixteen  to  twelve  cents  per  pound  and  an  increase  in  the  limit  from  four 
pounds  to  eleven  pounds,  to  put  your  domestic  rate  on  an  equality  with  what 
we  have  with  foreign  countries.  Can  you  go  on  record  as  opposing  the  giving 
to  eighty  millions  of  our  own  people  the  same  rate  that  we  give  to  the  for- 
eigners?    (Applause.) 

What  is  the  second  proposition?  That  on  the  rural  delivery  route,  for 
packages  originating  for  delivery  on  that  route,  the  rate  shall  be  five  cents  for 
the  first  pound  and  two  cents  each  for  the  next  ten  pounds,  so  that  the  rate  for 
eleven  pounds  running  out  of  a  small  town,  as  all  of  these  routes  do,  would  be 
twenty-five  cents.  The  mail  order  house  in  Chicago  or  in  San  Francisco 
attempting  to  send  out  a  package  and  attempting  to  take  advantage  of  that 
would  pay  twelve  cents  a  pound,  or  $1.32  as  against  the  small  dealers  twenty- 
five  cents. 

By   Vice-President   Pryor: 

Mr.  Fisk's  time  has  expired. 

By  Chairman  Harris: 

I  move  that  the  time  of  Mr.  Fisk  be  extended  for  five  minutes. 

By  Colonel  John  P.  Irish: 
r  second  the  motion. 
(The  motion  was  formally  presented  and  carried.) 


TRANS-MISSISSlPPI    COMMERCIAL    CONGRESS  221 

By    Mr.    Fisk: 

I  thank  you  very  much,  gentlemen.  I  will  quit  in  a  few  moments.  I 
would   like   to    read   you   ten   lines    from    the    President's    last   message: 

"I  further  commend  to  the  Congress  the  consideration  of  the  Postmaster- 
General's  recommendation  for  an  extension  of  the  parcels  post,  especially  on 
rural  routes.  There  are  now  38,215  rural  routes,  serving  nearly  fifteen  million 
people,  who  do  not  have  the  advantage  of  the  inhabitants  of  cities  in  obtain- 
ing their  supplies.  These  recommendations  have  been  drawn  up  to  benefit 
the  farmer  and  the  country  storekeeper,  otherwise  I  should  not  favor  them, 
for  I  believe  it  is  good  policy  for  our  Government  to  do  everything  possible 
to  aid  the  small  towns  and  the  country  districts.  It  is  desirable  that  the 
country  merchant  should  not  be  crushed   out."      (Applause.) 

If  there  is  one  thing  that  President  Roosevelt  has  established  to  the 
satisfaction  of  the  American  people,  it  is  that  he  means  what  he  says.  He 
did  not  write  that  message  until  he  had  looked  into  this  matter,  and  he 
means  exactly  what  he  says. 

The  recommendation  of  the  Postmaster-General  for  the  rural  delivery 
route  will  not  crush  out  the  small  dealer,  but  will  build  up  his  business.  The 
farmer  can  stay  at  home  and  attend  to  the  planting  and  the  harvesting,  and 
he  can  take  the  telephone — for  they  all  have  them  now — and  telephone  to  the 
town,  and  he  can  have  eleven  pounds  sent  out  there  for  twenty-five  cents. 
If  the  mail-order  house  in  the  city  of  San  Francisco,  or  Chicago,  or  New  York 
sends  him  that  package  it  will  cost  him  $1.32.     Whom  will  he  send  to? 

Just  one  other  word  and  I  am  done.  The  parcels  post,  as  it  stands  today, 
is  an  injustice  to  the  American  people  as  a  whole.  These  recommendations 
at  the  present  time  are  made  with  the  idea  not  only  of  benefiting  the  American 
people,  but  benefiting  the  farmer  and  the  small  dealer  and  tradesman.  The 
opposition  comes  from  the  express  company,  who,  as  I  told  you,  if  you  go  to 
it,  will  carry  four  pounds  at  much  less  than  it  will  carry  anything  above  that. 
The  rate  is  ten  times  as  great  above  four  pounds  as  below  four  pounds.  The 
second  opposition  I  think  comes  from  the  commercial  travelers,  who  feel  that 
once  we  get  this  parcels  post  there  will  not  be  possibly  as  much  demand  for 
their  services  throughout  the  small  country  districts,  because  the  farmer 
can,  as  I  say,  appeal  to  the  small  grocer  in  his  town.  Those  two  interests, 
I  think,  are  the  real  opponents  of  this  measure;  and  I  do  not  think  that  this 
Congress  can  afford  to  go  on  record  as  opposed  to  a  general  reduction  of  the 
rate  and  an  increase  in  the  limit  of  weight.  It  seems  to  me  that  to  do  that 
will  stamp  with  disapproval  the  very  purpose  of  a  postal  service  in  this 
country.      I   thank   you.      (Applause.) 

By  Mr.  W.  H.  Richardson,  of  Oregon: 

Mr.  Chairman,  and  Gentlemen  of  the  Convention:  All  the  words  that  I 
have  heard  so  far  in  this  discussion  are  pure  theory,  spoken  by  men  who  have 
not  come  into  actual  contact  with  the  situation  as  it  exists.  I  am  a  country 
merchant,  a  dealer  in  goods  in  a  small  town.  I  am  the  man  who  gets  hit  by 
the  parcels  post.  I  know  from  experience  behind  my  own  counters  what 
parcels  post  means.  When  a  farmer  comes  into  my  store  and  says,  "What 
is  your  price?"  I  quote  him  a  price- of  one  dollar  on  an  article  which  has  cost 
me  from  the  San  Francisco  jobber  seventy-five  cents;  and  the  farmer  says, 
"I  can  buy  it  from  Montgomery  Ward  or  Sears-Roebuck  delivered  for  seventy- 
five  cents."  That  is  what  I  am  up  against.  Montgomery  Ward  and  Sears- 
Roebuck  are  the  first  people  to  have  a  package  go  over  the  rural  free  delivery 
route.  It  is  a  voluminous  catalogue,  which  they  can  mail  at  third-class  rates, 
eight  cents  for  a  pound.  Every  package  that  I  send  out,  even  my  literature 
that  I  have  to  send  to  that  farmer,  costs  me  one  cent  an  ounce.  The  next 
thing  that  takes  place  in  the  country  is  where  the  little  postmaster,  at  the 
home  postoffice,  a  postoffice  established  in  a  residence,  a  farmer's  home,  issues 
a  postoffice  money  order,  payable  to  a  great  mail-order  house,  and  the  return 
mail  brings  goods  that  were  paid  for  in  advance  by  the  farmer.  I  admit  that 
the  farmer  profits  some  by  that.  He  is  buying  at  less  than  Pacific  Coast 
jobbers'  prices.  He  is  buying  at  prices  that  are  quoted  to  corporations  that 
can  buy  a  million  dollars'  worth  of  an  article  at  a  time,  that  can  dictate  to 
manufacturers  what  price  he  shall  pay.  He  does  not  go  to  a  manufacturer 
and  say,  "How  much  will  you  take?";  but  he  says,  "Make  me  up  a  million  so 
and  so,  and  I  will  pay  you  so  much.  If  you  don't  want  that  business  some- 
body else  does."  That  is  where  the  jobbers  on  this  coast,  and  all  other  jobbers 
get  hit;   thev  cannot  buy  in  such  quantities. 

The  next  position  is  when  the  farmer  comes  along  to  the  early  spring 
months  of  the  vear,  short  in  cash,  having  spent  it  all  for  implements  and  for 
goods  that  he  has  bought  from  the  great  mail-order  houses  in  states  foreign  to 
mine,  and  comes  to  me  and  says.  "Mr.  Richardson,  if  you  please,  will  you 
please  let   me  have  some  goods  on  credit  until  I  sell  my  next  crop?"     That  is 


222  REPORT    OF    PROCEEDINGS 

where  I  get  hit  again.  (Applause.)  Ami  I  tell  you.  gentlemen,  that  hits  me 
hard.  The  only  money  that  I  have  on  my  ledgers  today,  the  only  accounts 
I  have  on  my  ledgers  today  that  amount  to  anything  at  all  are  the  accounts 
that  I  hold  against  farmers  that  patronize  the  mail-order  house,  and  I  cannot 
collect  my  money.  I  have  to  buy  a  horse  to  eat  the  hay  they  want  to  bring 
to  me  to  pay  for  the  drugs  they  got  from  me.  Can  they  sell  any  hay  to  Sears- 
Roebuck  or  Montgomery  Ward?  (Applause.)  Not  a  dollar's  worth,"  I  tell  you, 
gentlemen. 

Then  along  comes  tax-paying  time.  How  many  miles  of  road  in  my  State, 
or  in  your  State,  did  Montgomery  Ward  or  Sears-Roebuck  ever  build? 
i  Applause.) 

Then  comes  the  day,  the  solemn  hour  in  my  neighbor's  family — some  dear 
one  is  dying.  I  close  my  store  out  of  respect  for  that  family  that  has  patron- 
ized me.  I  lay  off  from  my  business  a  half  a  day  to  show  my  respect.  My 
time  is  worth,  say,  the  small  sum  of  ten  dollars  a  day,  which  it  is:  my  half- 
day  is  five  dollars.  I  have  actually  lost  that — time  gone  is  gone  forever.  That 
five  dollars  represents  the  difference  between  the  wholesale  jobbing  price  on 
the  Pacific  Coast,  and  the  great  manufacturers'  price  that  is  quoted  to  the 
mail-order  house.  Therefore,  they  can  meet  me  on  my  grounds  in  my  district 
and   sell  at  less  than   I  can   buy   for  at   wholesale. 

By   Vice-President   Pryor: 
Your   time  is  up. 

By  Mr.  Richardson: 

I  ask  for  one  minute  more. 

By  Chairman  Harris: 

I  move  that  the  gentleman's  time  be  extended  five  minutes. 

By   Mr.   Burton: 

I  second  the  motion. 

(The  motion  was  formally  presented  and  carried.) 

By   Vice-President   Pryor: 

The  gentleman  has  five  minutes. 

By  Mr.  HlchnrdMon: 

I  thank  you,  gentlemen. 

I  speak  from  experience  and  from  the  bottom  of  my  heart.  This  subject 
touches  me  at  the  point  of  life,  in  my  business;  that  is  where  it  hits  me.  1 
know  where  the  packages  come  from  that  supply  the  families  that  come  to  me 
for  subscriptions  to  build  their  telephone  lines  that  are  commercial  club  built — 
one  dollar  for  every  suburban  connection  on  the  telephone  line.  I  do  it 
gladly;  do  it  willingly.  And  those  people  telephone  in  whenever  they  want 
something  sent  out  and  say  they  will  send  the  money  after  a  while.  When 
they  have  got  some  money,  however,  they  go  to  the  postofflce  and  send  their 
little  piece  of  money  by  mail  to  the  mail-order  house.  1  get  hit.  When  it  is 
necessary  to  build  a  little  red  schoolhouse,  gentlemen,  out  by  the  crossroads — 
the  little  red  schoolhouse  that  throughout  the  country  everywhere  floats  the 
Stars  and  Stripes,  go  where  you  will,  and  you  see  the  Stars  and  Stripes 
floating  over  that  little  schoolhouse  did  Sears  &  Roebuck  or  Montgomery 
Ward  give  one  cent  toward  the  building  of  that  little  schoolhouse?  (Ap- 
plause.)    I  say  no. 

Now,  it  is  said  that  the  man  in  the  mountains,  the  man  on  the  seashore, 
the  man  on  the  plains,  need  their  lower  postage  rate;  that  the  fanner  is  handi- 
capped. Is  there  a  man  in  this  audience  today  thai  can  feel  the  pure,  sweet 
independence  that  our  American  farmer  does?  The  greal  Millet,  in  his  paint- 
ing—  I  am  told  tli.it  this  original  painting  was  destroyed  In  your  tire  here 
depicts  the  man  with  the  hoe  and  pictures  a  peasant  bowed  over  a  heavy  hoe. 
Edwin  Markham,  a  fellow  townsman  of  mine,  wrote  describing  that,  after  he 
had  viewed  it.  "Bowed  With  the  weight  of  ages,  he  leans  upon  his  hoe,  and 
looks  upon  the  ground,  the  emptiness  of  ages  In  Ids  face,  the  burden  of  the 
world    upon   his   back."      Does   that    apply   to   the    American    farmer? 


TRANS-MISSISSIPPI    COMMERCIAL    CONGRESS  223 

By    Delegates: 

No,  he  rides  in  an  automobile.     (Laughter.) 

By  Mr.   ISi  chardson,   (Continuing): 

No,  the  American  farmer  takes  his  hoe  in  his  hand,  clears  out  his  little 
irrigation  ditch,  and  lets  the  pure  waters  bring  an  abundant  crop.  If  he 
bows  at  all,  he  bows  graceful  acknowledgement  to  the  illustrious  President 
who  made  it  possible  for  him  to  have  an  irrigation  ditch.  Is  the  "emptiness 
of  ages*'  upon  his  face?  No,  the  American  farmer  will  look  you  square  in 
the  eyes,  the  light  of  intelligence  upon  his  face.  If  he  has  anything  to 
sell,  he  says,  "My  price  is  so  much."  He  is  independent.  There  is  not  a  man 
among  you,  down  in  the  bottom  of  your  heart,  but  that  envies  him,  the 
honest,  prosperous,  independent  farmer.  Do  we  need  to  pity  him?  No — no 
pity  for  the  farmer.     But  the  merchant,  the  country  merchant,  is  called  upon. 

By  Vice-President   Pryor: 

The  time  is  up  a  second  time. 

By    Mr.    Burton,   of   Los   Angeles: 

I  want  to  make  a  motion  that  the  gentleman  be  given  time  to  finish 
his  remarks.     He  wants  two  minutes. 

A     Delegate: 

I    second    the    motion. 

(The  motion  was  formally  presented  and  lost.) 

By  Vice-President  Pryor: 

The  gentleman  will  take  his  seat. 

By  Mr.  Burton,  of  California: 

If  you  are  tired  of  the  question,  I  will  retire.  I  would  give  more  for  what 
Mr.  Richardson  has  said  than  for  every  other  word  that  has  been  uttered  and 
read  here  today,  not  excepting  what  has  been  read  from  the  President's 
message.  (Applause.)  That  man  talks  right  from  the  bat;  he  knows  what  he 
is  talking  about.  Somebody  says  California  is  not  the  whole  of  this  Con- 
gress. Of  course  it  is  not,  gentlemen.  We  have  Texas,  which  is  bigger  than 
California,  and  we  have  other  states  that  are  represented  here,  and  we  are 
very  glad  to  meet  you  all. 

Here  is  the  whole  pith  of  the  proposition:  I  rode  in  an  automobile  with  a 
country  merchant — I  know  something  about  country  merchants — and  I  asked 
him  if  he  was  in  favor  of  the  parcels  post.  He  said,  "I  am  a  small  merchant 
in  a  small  town,  and  it  would  kill  me.  My  brother  is  a  large  merchant  in  a 
large  town  and  he  is  in  favor  of  it.  It  would  kill  me  and  put  me  out  of  busi- 
ness." These  men  know  exactly  what  they  are  talking  about.  The  President 
is  theorizing.  I  am  not  pulling  with  railroad  companies  or  express  com- 
panies; I  have  no  relation  with  them;  but  I  have  been  in  close  relation  to  the 
country  merchants  a  large  part  of  my  life.  He  is  up  the  first  of  any  in  the 
community;  he  is  in  his  bed  last.  He  kindles  the  kitchen  Are;  he  milks  the 
cow;  gives  the  baby  the  bottle;  and  meantime,  while  he  Is  cooking  the  break- 
fast and  the  chops,  he  is  getting  one  customer  a  loaf  of  bread,  another  a 
bottle  of  milk,  and  a  little  bit  of  butter;  and  so  he  runs  from  the  cowshed — 
meantime  he  curries  the  horse.  I  know  him;  he  works  sixteen  hours  a  day. 
He  has  got  from  one  thousand  to  twenty-five  hundred  dollars  invested  in  his 
business;  he  makes  as  much  as  a  street  sweeper  perhaps;  he  is  lucky  if  he 
makes  as  much  as  a  San  Francisco  carpenter.  He  never  makes  as  much  a  day 
as  a  San  Francisco  plumber.  CLaughter.)  And  will  you  tell  me  a  man  in  any 
community  of  more  importance,  of  more  worth,  than  the  small  country  mer- 
chant, whatever  he  be — grocer,  or  hardware  man  or  dry  goods  man?  He  is 
the  hardest  worker,  the  most  efficient  and  helpful  person. 

We  have  had  a  great  deal  said  about  the  farmer's  interest.  The  country 
merchant  is  the  one  that  takes  the  farmer's  basket  of  eggs,  and  he  cannot 
send  that  by  a  parcels  post.  (Laughter.)  He  is  the  man  that  takes  the 
farmer's   chickens,   his   truck   and   everything   that   he   has   to    trade   for   neces- 


224  REPORT    OF    PROCEEDINGS 

saries  of  life.  I  do  not  want  to  occupy  your  time,  but  I  want  to  call  your 
attention  to  the  fact  that  the  parcels  post  will  drive  them  out  of  trade  as 
sure  as  the  world.  The  rural  route  which  carries  the  magazine  is  one  thing; 
the  rural  route  that  carries  the  newspaper  is  one  thing;  but  the  rural  route  that 
carries  the  package  from  the  big  house  is  something  else;  and  if  there  is  any 
such  thing  as  concentration  in  putting  the  business  into  the  hands  of  a 
monopoly,  it  is  this  parcels  post  business  (applause),  which  will  give  one  or 
two  big  department  houses  in  due  time  all  the  business  of  the  whole  country. 
The  small  retail  stores  will  be  closed  and  the  landlord  loses  his  rent.  The  boy 
who  drives  the  grocer's  goods  around  will  be  turned  away  here,  there  and 
yonder.  You  hit  everybody.  You  kill  off  the  butcher  shop  as  well  as  the 
grocery  house  from  one  end  of  the  country  to  the  other.  And  you  simply 
create  a  great  monopoly  in  the  hands  of  a  few  department  store  houses.  (Ap- 
plause.) 

By    Mr.   Bigger,   of   Idaho: 

In  deciding  this  important  question  there  should  he  much  care  taken. 
This  is  not  a  new  question;  this  has  been  before  this  body  before.  I  was 
on  the  Resolutions  Committee  when  it  was  introduced,  last  session.  It  was 
discussed  fully.  The  great  department  stores  were  not  represented  there; 
they  have  nothing  whatever  to  say.  I  have  never  determined  in  my  mind 
as  to  the  merits  or  demerits  of  this  question;  but  I  have  remembered  that 
the  small  merchant  and  the  Traveling  Men's  Association  sent  their  rep- 
resentatives from  New  York  and  Chicago  before  that  committee.  But  I 
do  not  remember  of  seeing  a  representative  from  the  great  mass  of  the 
people  that  this  was  intended  to  benefit.  (Applause.)  And  I  recognize 
here  that  the  committee  in  discussing  this  important  question  was  divided 
in  their  opinion  with  regard  to  its  merits,  eleven  to  eight,  simply  a  majority 
in  opinion  of  three  men  only. 

I  recognize  that  the  small  merchant  has  been  well  represented  here, 
but  has  the  great  mass  of  the  people  been  represented  here  equally  as  well? 

By    Various    Delegates: 
No. 

By   Mr.   Bigger: 

We  must  remark  that  it  is  the  great  mass  of  the  people  that  we  are 
here  to  represent,  and  should  consult  their  best  interest.  (Applause.)  It  is 
simply  an  opinion  and  an  opinion  only  that  it  will  be  a  great  damage  to  our 
small  merchants.  How  many  of  you  have  heard  it  said  that  the  free  delivery 
was  going  to  ruin  the  country?    But  has  it  done  so? 

By    Various    Delegates: 

No.     Never   heard   it   said. 

By    Mr.    Bigger: 

It  has  been  a  benefit  to  the  whole  country,  we  all  know.  You  want  to 
decide  without  passion  on  a  question  that  has  before  been  asked  for  several 
years  and  is  now  honestly  recommended  by  the  administration  of  this 
Government  at  Washington.     (Applause.) 

By  Mr.  II.  II.  Bnsford,  of  San  Francisco: 

We  have  listened  to  a  great  many  impassioned  appeals.  Personally  I  do 
not  believe  in  an  impassioned  appeal.  It  is  very  well  to  talk  on  sentiment. 
Let  us  come  down  to  figures.  Our  worthy  President  who  has  just  been  in- 
stalled said  that  the  object  of  this  association  is  the  greatest  good  for  the 
greatest  number.  Therefore,  let  us  lay  our  talk  along  that  line.  Mr.  Berwick 
— 1  believe  that  is  tin-  name  of  the  first  speaker,  who  offered  this  resolution — 
speaks  of  the  man  on  the  plains,  the  man  in  the  mountains,  the  man  some- 
where far  off.  There  is  no  question  that  in  such  locations,  where  there  are  no 
towns,  it  would  benefit  those  people.  But  are  they  the  greatest  number?  At 
best    they    number    but   a    small    percentage    of   our   country    population.      Con- 


EXECT  TIVE    OFFICERS. 

1.  TOM    RICHARDSON,     Portland,    Oregon. 

'2.  A.  <;.  LARIMORE,  Larlmore,  N.  I).  :i.    \I,V\    ADAMS,   Pneblo,   Colo. 

4.   HERBERT  STRAIN,  Great  Falls,  Mont.         B.    HENRY  T.  CLARKE,  Omaha,  Neb. 

<!.    \Y.     O.     HART,     \f«     Orleans.     La.  7.   WALTER    !•'.   FI1KAH.   Honolulu.  T.  H. 


TRANS-MISSISSIPPI    COMMERCIAL    CONGRESS  225 

sequently,    the    greatest    good    for    the    greatest    number    would    eliminate    that 
class. 

Mr.  Fisk  tells  you  that  the  local  merchant  can  send  his  goods  out  locally 
for  five  cents  for  the  first  pound,  and  two  cents  thereafter  up  to  eleven  pounds; 
whereas,  the  great  mail-order  house  must  pay  twelve  cents  per  pound  for  the 
same  amount.  That  is  all  very  well,  but  the  figures  do  not  jibe.  The  mail- 
order houses  sending  out  their  goods,  or,  rather,  sending  out  their  catalogues, 
today  pay  thirty-two  cents,  for  they  nearly  all  weigh  around  the  four-pound 
limit.  If  this  post  bill  is  recommended,  and  in  fact  if  it  passed,  the  mail-order 
house  will  immediately  send  out  to  each  community  in  this  country  by  freight 
at  a  cost  of  three  cents  per  catalogue,  to  some  local  man — either  a  young 
fellow  or  a  man  retired — a  man  that  any  dollar  that  he  makes  is  good  to  him 
in  these  small  communities— these  catalogues  by  freight  and  he  will  distribute 
them  at  the  five  and  two-cent  rates;  or  in  other  words,  he  will  have  to  pay 
for  the  distribution  of  the  catalogue  fourteen  cents,  whereas  now,  they  pay 
thirty-two  cents.     It  is  the  rural  part  of  the  parcels  post  that  I  oppose. 

The  one  feature  that  has  not  been  consfdered  here  is  equipment.  Do  you 
realize  that  every  package  of  merchandise  sent  through  the  mails  must  be 
delivered  to  the  owner?  It  means  doubling  the  routes— the  equipment  must 
be  doubled.  The  Government  is  not  paying  for  that.  They  must  either  pay 
that  or  increase  the  salaries.  Do  you  realize  what  merchant  could  afford  to 
pay  for  eleven  pounds  of  coffee  twenty-five  cents?  Could  he  do  it?  If  a  cus- 
tomer telephones  to  him,  he  gets  it  delivered  on  credit;  while  the  mail-order 
house  gets  cash.     Is  there  any  sense  in  that? 

Mr.  Fisk  has  also  brought  in  the  personality  of  the  commercial  traveling 
man.  Do  you  realize  that  there  are  over  five  hundred  thousand  traveling  men 
in  this  country?  We  speak  of  the  great  masses  of  the  people.  Are  they  not  as 
much  the  great  masses  as  anybody?  Do  you  realize  that  they  spend  over 
$500,000  a  day  in  this  country?  Speaking  from  the  commercial  man's  side,  we 
do  not  want  to  bring  in  the  personality  of  it;  and  that  is  the  only  thing  I  want 
to  say.  We  are  the  mass  of  the  people;  every  merchant  is  the  mass  of  the 
people.  Right  now  the  rural  delivery  will  take  some  little  package  out,  usually 
courteously,  and  yet  it  is  not  patronized,  at  a  nominal  fee.  Can  the  country 
merchant  pay  for  that?  Will  he?  Or  will  the  rural  resident  pay  the  country 
merchant  additional  to  the  extent  of  anywhere  from  fifteen  to  twenty-five 
cents  a  package,  when  right  now  he  pays  practically  nothing  for  that  amount? 
Do  you  realize  that  the  greatest  fee  he  has  taken  for  anything  up  to  four 
pounds  would  be  raised  to  eleven  pounds?     Gentlemen,  realize  these  things. 

By  D.  P.   >l:i rn in,  of  Woodward,  Oklahoma: 

I  come  from  a  state  where  it  is  not  considered  a  crime  to  disagree  with  the 
President  of  the  United  States,  if  necessary  (applause),  much  less  his  post- 
master in  San  Francisco.  I  am  a  delegate  to  this  Convention,  and  have  paid 
my  fare  and  can  show  you  a  railroad  ticket,  and  therefore  cannot  be  accused 
of  representing  express  companies.  It  is  the  rural  interests  that  we  repre- 
sent.     (Applause.) 

I  can  tell  you,  gentlemen  of  San  Francisco,  what  will  be  the  result  of 
this:  You  destroy  the  energy  of  your  noble  merchant,  who  has  begun  the 
rebuilding  of  your  magnificent  city.  All  that  will  be  necessary  for  you  to  have 
will  be  a  large  warehouse  down  on  the  bay,  where  the  great  centers  of  com- 
merce will  ship  in  produce  to  be  distributed  by  the  rural  route.  You  will  not 
need  to  build  your  magnificent  retail  stores,  because  there  will  be  no  need  of 
them.  You  let  San  Francisco  remain  in  ashes  when  you  vote  to  recommend 
the   parcels   post   that   they   are   asking   for.      (Applause.) 

Who  are  in  favor  of  that  measure?  People  who  have  traveled  in  Europe. 
Very  few  of  us  have  enjoyed  the  advantages  that  others  who  belong  to  this 
association  have  enjoyed.  Ours  is  a  new  country  as  yet.  Oklahoma  as  yet  has 
not  had  the  honor  to  confer  a  wife  upon  some  duke,  count  or  prince,  and  we 
want  to  keep  that  product  at  home  as  well  as  to  build  up  our  local  institutions. 
To  me  the  little  store,  the  schoolhouse,  and  the  village  church  are  a  more 
welcome  sight  than  a  flock  of  mail  boxes  at  the  crossroads.  You  have  the 
flock  of  mail  boxes  and  you  dispense  with  the  others:  you  destroy  the  town  and 
the  village,  and  you  kill  the  village  high  school,  and  your  farming  community 
that  winter  in  the  town  and  send  their  children  to  the  high  school  of  your 
little  towns  and  cities,  which  we  have  in  Oklahoma — every  ten  miles.  You 
deny  them  that  and  compel  the  farmers'  boys  to  have  a  common  school  educa- 
tion of  six  months  in  the  ye&r.  We  want  that  in  Oklahoma,  and  we  make  no 
apologies  for  wanting  it  to  the  postmaster  of  San  Francisco  or  the  President  of 
the  United  States.  (Applause.)  We  intend  to  keep  inside  of  our  domain  the 
money  that  we  produce  there. 


226  REPORT    OF  PROCEEDINGS 

By  Vice-President  Pryor: 

The  gentleman's  time  is  up. 
By   Chairman    Harris: 

I  move  that  the  gentleman  have  five  minutes  more  time. 

By  a  Delegate: 

I  second  the  motion. 

(The   motion    was    formally   presented   and   carried.) 

By  Mr.  Marimi: 

We  also  are  not  in  favor  of  a  public  line  running  from  Oklahoma  to  the 
great  centers  of  the  United  States  to  do  our  business,  and  enable  the  sons  of 
the  owners  of  those  great  houses — and  I  am  justified  in  saying  it,  because 
Mr.  Wanamaker  was  held  up  as  the  great  example,  and  we  all  remember  the 
$20,000  supper  that  young  Mr.  Wanamaker  gave  in  Paris.  We  do  not  want 
anything  of  that  kind.  We  want  to  come  to  our  town  the  drummer,  the  man 
who  travels,  who  brings  life,  who  brings  into  that  community  the  news  from 
the  outside  world,  with  his  questions,  and  his  stories,  and  his  samples;  we 
do  not  want  to  punish  the  drummer  and  take  in  his  place  a  flock  of  mail 
boxes.      I    thank   you,   gentlemen.      (Applause.) 

By  J.  H.  Barker,  of  California: 

Mr.  Chairman,  Gentlemen  of  the  Convention:  I  did  not  propose  to  talk 
about  this  subject,  but  I  feel,  not  being  an  express  company,  not  being  a 
railroad — I  wish  I  were;  I  would  like  to  own  one — but  just  an  ordinary 
wholesale  merchant,  who,  inasmuch  as  we  have  listened  to  expert  advice 
upon  what  will  be  the  effect  of  a  parcels  post  bill,  thinking  that  possibly  twen- 
ty years  of  experience  in  merchandising  may  be  of  value — I  hope  it  will  be — 
as  to  what  will  or  will  not  be  the  effect  if  a  bill  of  this  character  is  passed, 
is  my  excuse  for  taking  a  few  minutes  of  your  time. 

Fundamentally  our  Government  has  admitted  and  is  demanding  every- 
where that  mileage  shall  be  the  basis  of  the  cost  or  the  measure  of  the  cost  of 
transportation — not  the  only  factor,  but  the  governing  factor.  Now  we  are 
told  that  the  way  to  move  merchandise  is  by  a  postage  stamp  rate;  or,  dis- 
regarding all  distances,  to  charge  the  same  rate  for  three  thousand  miles  or 
one  mile.      (Applause.) 

I  have  heard  a  great  many  promises  in  my  short  life,  and  it  is  getting 
longer  every  day,  as  to  what  we  are  going  to  do  for  the  people,  and  a  great 
many  of  them  have  not  come  through.  Any  man  that  tells  me  that  he  can 
get  done  through  the  postoffice,  or  by  any  other  means,  the  transportation  of 
a  package  for  three  thousand  miles,  at  the  same  rate  that  I  can  send  the  same 
package  a  short  distance,  without  the  taxpayer  footing  up  the  difference 
sooner  or  later,  I  will  put  my  knowledge  against  his. 

If  purchasing  power  is  to  be  the  sole  power,  as  a  wholesaler  I  will  say 
it  won't  take  me  long  to  turn  my  establishment  into  a  mail-order  house.  But 
our  interests  are  not  personal  here.  Though  we  may  be  able_  to  take  care  of 
ourselves,  whatever  legislation  may  be  enacted,  I  believe  we  are  here  as 
representatives  in  a  republican  form  of  government  to  vote  and  do  as  we 
feel  the  people  need;  and  consequently  I  am  going"  to  rise  above  my  own 
profession,  and  I  trust  you  will  believe  I  am  in  earnest.      (Applause.) 

I  believe  that  if  this  bill  goes  through  the  paternal  government  will  be 
called  upon  to  pay  the  losses  of  transportation.  If  you  are  going  to  create 
monopoly,  if  that  is  the  spirit  of  the  time,  then  vote  for  this  parcels  post 
bill.  But  if  it  is  a  question  merely  of  rural  delivery,  I  do  not  believe  there  is 
a  man  even  who  is  opposing  this  motion  will  say  that  the  President  of  the 
United  States  is  wrong  when  lie  wants  to  reach  out  into  those  places  that 
have  little  communication,  to  give  them  a  service.  Nobody  is  quarreling  with 
rural  delivery;  nobody  is  quarreling  with  the  dissemination  of  knowledge; 
nobody  is  quarreling  with  the  fact  that  thousands  of  tons  of  newspapers  are 
put  into  the  mails.  It  is  the  next  institution  in  educational  purposes  to  our 
public  schools.  But  when  you  attempt  to  move  tons,  which  move  ciieapest 
when  moved  in  straight  carloads — to  move  them  in  packages,  and  for  the 
Government  to  go  into  the  railroad  business,  then  I  say  the  gentleman  who 
has  the  monopoly  of  that  business  is  the  gentleman  who  has  the  greatest 
purchasing  power.      (Applause.) 

By  Mr.  Gosper,  of  California: 

I  arise,  not  to  talk,  hut  to  cut  the  talk  off.  Therefore,  I  move  the 
previous  question.  There  are  other  subjects  to  be  considered  besides  this 
one.     T  give  way  to  Chairman  Harris  if  he  wishes  to  talk  a  few  minutes. 


TRANS-MISSISSIPPI    COMMERCIAL    CONGRESS  227 

By   Chairman    Harris: 

I  do  not  desire  any  favors  greater  than  any  delegate  has,  and  I  will 
ask  Mr.  Gosper  to  withdraw  his  motion.     Do  you  decline  to  withdraw   it  ? 

By   Mr.   Gosper: 

If  it  is  to  he  continued  for  an  hour  or  two  when  other  questions  are 
to  be  considered,  no  sir,  I  will  not  withdraw,  but  as  a  courtesy  to  you,  if 
you  wish  to  speak,  I  will  withdraw  the  motion. 

By   Chairman    Harris: 

I   have   no   favor   to   ask. 

By   Mr.   Hart,  of   New  Orleans: 

I  move,  as  a  substitute  to  the  previous  question,  that  the  discussion 
be  put  off  until  1  o'clock. 

By    Mr.    Gosper: 

I  will  accept  your  proposition,  if  we  will  quit  until  1  o'clock. 

By   Chairman    Harris: 

If  you  will  allow  a  suggestion  from  the  floor,  the  previous  question 
cuts   off  all   debate. 

By  Mr.  Gosper: 

I  withdraw  my  motion  until  1  o'clock. 

By   Chairman    Harris: 

I  object  to  his  setting  the  time  at  any  specific  moment.  Either  with- 
draw it  or  not.  Either  I  fight  with  you  or  love  you.  I  arise  to  make  this 
statement  as  a  matter  of  personal  privilege  as  chairman  of  the  committee 
on  resolutions.  Under  the  rules  of  this  body  no  motion  of  the  previous 
question  can  preclude  the  author  of  the  motion  from  concluding  its  debate. 
I  therefore  suggest  to  the  author  of  this  resolution  that  he  has  the  right 
to  conclude  this  debate  if  the  previous  question  be  ordered.  If  it  be  not 
ordered,  then  we  all  have  a  right  to  debate  the  question  further.     (Applause.) 

By  Mr.  Gosper: 

I  concede  the  right  of  the  mover  of  the  motion  to  conclude  the  debate. 
But  I  will  not  concede  to  my  friend  Mr.  Harris,  the  right  to  continue  this 
discussion  until  it  is  time  for  us  to  start  for  our  homes. 

By   Chairman    Harris: 

I  have  yet  to  learn  that  the  right  of  free  debate  depends  upon  the  will 
of  any  man,  no  matter  how  great  a  friend  of  mine  he  may  be. 

By  Vice-President  Pryor: 

The  only  way  to  do  this  is  to  vote  it  down  if  you  so  desire. 

By  Mr.  Gosper: 

I  have  withdrawn  my  motion,  giving  the  author  of  the  resolution  the 
privilege  of  replying. 

By   Chairman    Harris: 

I  suggest  that  he  withdraw  it  for  all  purposes  or  none.  Is  it  withdrawn, 
or  not? 

By  Mr.  Gosper: 

I  will  make  the  motion. 


228  REPORT.    OF    PROCEEDINGS 

By  Vice-President  Pryor: 

It  has  been  moved  and  seconded  — 

By   Chairman    Harris: 

There  is  no  motion.     It  has  been  withdrawn. 

By  Mr.  Gosper: 

If  my  friend  from  Texas  will  listen  to  me  a  moment  he  will  know  just 
what  I  mean. 

By   Chairman    Harris: 

I  will  listen  with  the  utmost  pleasure,  Governor,  but  you  cannot  make  a 
motion  and  take  it  back. 

By  Mr.  Gosper: 

I  can,  if  I  see  fit.  I  can  make  a  motion  if  I  see  fit,  and  withdraw  it  if 
I   see   fit. 

By  Vice-President  Pryor: 

It  has  been  moved  and  seconded — Do  you  understand  what  the  previous 
question  means?  The  previous  question  is  that  this  debate  is  closed,  and 
that  there  will  be  no  vote  taken  on  the  germane  question.  That  is  the  way 
I  construe  a  previous  question.  There  will  be  no  vote  taken  on  the  parcels 
post  if  this  is  carried. 

By  Postmaster  Fisk: 

That  there  will  be  no   vote  taken? 

By  Vice-President  Pryor: 

The  previous  question  carries  this. 

By  Chairman    Harris: 

I  think  I  can  make  a  suggestion  that  the  Chair  will  accept.  The  only 
effect  in  the  carrying  of  the  previous  question  is  to  cut  off  all  debate  except 
on  the  part  of  the  mover  of  the  motion. 

By  Vice-President  Pryor: 

All  those  in  favor  of  the  previous  question  signify  by  saying  "Aye."  All 
those  opposed  signify  by  saying  "No."     The  "Noes"  have  it. 

By  >Ir.  George  M.  Cannon,  of  l;tah: 

Mr.  Chairman  and  Ladies  and  Gentlemen:  I  believe  that  in  this  matter 
we  are  to  seek  for  that  which  we  believe  is  right.  I  believe  every  delegate 
here  will  do  that.  I  think  we  ought  as  near  as  possible  to  arrive  at  the  facts 
in  the  case.  The  remarks  of  the  gentleman  who  says  he  is  a  storekeeper  in 
Oregon  remind  me  of  a  story  I  heard  in  Colorado.  According  to  this  gentle- 
man's remark  there  is  already  a  paralysis  of  the  country  storekeeper's  busi- 
ness. The  story  was  this:  A  few  y>  ars  ago  three  or  four  men  started  out  to 
the  country.  When  they  got  down  into  one  corner  of  Colorado  an  old  guide 
who  was  there  brought  in  some  samples  and  handed  these  samples  out  to  the 
men.  They  were  looking  at  these  samples  at  the  table  and  they  said,  ''Joe. 
these  are  wonderful  samples.  Here  is  a  petrified  fish  and  different  things." 
Leaning  back  against  the  tree,  he  said,  "Those  things  may  lie  very  strange  to 
you,  but  they  are  very  common.  If  yon  will  go  with  me  1  will  take  you  to 
a  place  where  you  will  find  fields  of  grain  all  petrified,  and  that  is  not  all. 
I  will  take  you  to  a  place  where  you  will  find  the  forests  and  the  trees  all 
standing  in  their  places,  all  petrified;  and  that  is  not  all.  I  will  take  you  to  a 
stream  where  the  fish  in  that  stream  are  all  petrified."  And  he  says,  "That  is 
not  all.  I  will  take  you  to  the  mighty  Colorado,  where  the  canyon  is  so  deep 
that  when  you  stand  mi  the  cresl  and  look  down  to  the  bottom  a  man  looks 
as   small  as   an   ant.     There,    suspended    in    the   air,    is  a  great   sheep   that   tried 


TRANS-MISSISSIPPI    COMMERCIAL    CONGRESS  229 

to  jump  from  one  side  of  the  canyon  to  the  other,  and  there  it  is  in  the  air 
above  the  center  of  the  canyon,  all  petrified."  When  he  got  to  that  point, 
the  gentlemen  said,  "Now,  Joe,  that  is  too  thin!  When  we  came  out  here 
we  might  have  believed  that  you  had  woods  petrified,  and  what  you  said  about 
the  waving  grain  and  the  fishes  being  petrified,  with  the. water  running  over 
them.  But  we  know  about  the  law  of  gravity.  Don't  you  know  that  the  law 
of  gravity  would  prevent  a  sheep  from  staying  in  the  air?"  "Well,"  said  Joe, 
"in  that  country  the  law  of  gravity  is  petrified,  too."  Our  friend  would  have 
us  believe  that  the  mail-order  house  has  already  destroyed  the  country  mer- 
chants; he  has  felt  the  effects  of  it.  But  I  have  not  seen  anybody  that  has 
advocated  the  parcels  post  who  was  a  representative  of  a  mail-order  house; 
or,  if  he  has  done  so,  he  has  cleverly  concealed  his  identity. 

The  last  speaker  in  opposition  of  this  matter  stated  that  he  was  an 
favor  of  transportation  rates  in  accordance  with  mileage.  The  provision 
provides  that  in  these  rural  routes  from  the  office  that  they  originate  pack- 
ages will  be  carried  of  eleven  pounds  weight  for  twenty-five  cents,  whereas 
from  any  of  the  great  centers  they  would  have  to  pay  $1.32.  Consequently, 
the  statement  was  not  a  fact.  Let  us  be  fair  about  this  matter.  I  am  in 
favor  of  the  country  storekeeper.  I  am  in  favor  of  preserving  the  country 
storekeeper,  but  our  friend  from  Oklahoma  recognized  the  fact  that  there 
are  great  wholesale  stores  in  San  Francisco,  as  well  as  small  stores,  and  that 
the  drummers  from  those  wholesale  stores  go  into  their  communities  and 
take  their  orders  just  the  same  as  the  mail-order  houses.  They  do  not  pay 
taxes  in  those  places. 

The  main  proposition  about  this  thing  is  that  it  will  reduce  the  rate  for 
these  rural  deliveries,  and  the  people  who  will  be  benefited  will  be  something 
like   15,000,000  people. 

By   Mr.   Baker: 

He  states  that  the  rate  is  $1.32  for  a  distant  hauling.  Is  not  that  rate 
$1.32  if  hauled  from  Chicago  to  St.  Louis,  and  $1.32  from  Chicago  to  San 
Francisco,  and  therefore  the  distance  is  disregarded,  and  therefore  my 
statement  not  a  misstatement  of  fact? 

Mr.  Cannon: 

Answering  the  question,  I  only  desire  to  state,  as  I  stated  before,  there 
is  a  peculiar  difference  made  in  favor  of  the  very  one  for  whom  the  argu- 
ment has  been  made,  the  rural  country  store,  over  the  rural  route. 

By   Mr.   Briggs,   of   California: 

In  the  interest  of  fair  play  and  to  allay  any  ill  feelings  that  there 
may  be  or  are  likely  to  arise  in  this  discussion,  I  now  move  you,  Mr.  Chair- 
man, that  we  adjourn  until  3  o'clock,  until  the  time  we  will  have  settled 
the  question  in  our  own  minds,  and  thresh  it  out  if  it  takes  the  whole  night. 

By   Chairman    Harris: 

Why  3  o'clock?    It  is  only  1  now. 

By    Mr.    Briggs: 

I  thought,  perhaps,  your  minds  would  get  pretty  well  settled  by  that  time. 

By  Chairman   Harris: 

I  move  that  we  take  a  recess  until  2  o'clock. 

By    Mr.    Briggs: 

I  ask  that  Mr.  Harris  make  it  2:30.     I  have  a  reason  for  it. 

By   Chairman    Harris: 
Two-thirty  o'clock. 

By  a   Delegate: 

I  second  the  motion. 

(The  motion   was  formally   presented  and  carried.) 


THIRTEENTH  SESSION 

At  2:50  o'clock  p.  m..  the  convention  was  called  to  order  by  Vice-Presi 
dent   Colonel    W.    F.    Baker,    of   Iowa. 

By   Colonel   Baker: 

Have  you  any  communications,   Mr.   Secretary? 

By   Secretary   Francis: 

I  have  a  telegram  here,  reading  as  follows: 

GREETINGS    FROM    THE    CHICAGO    DEEP   WATER   CONVENTION. 

Chicago,   October   10,    1908. 
J.  B.  Case,  President,  Trans-Mississippi  Commercial  Congress. 

Lakes  to  Gulf  Deep  Waterway  Association  in  convention  here  with  four 
thousand  delegates  sends  greetings  and  cordial  hope  for  successful  session. 

W.  F.  SAUNDERS,   Secretary. 

By  Senator  Edward  F.  Harris,  of  Texas: 

I  move,  Mr.  Chairman,  that  the  President  and  Secretary  of  this  associa- 
tion be  authorized  to  make  the  proper  responses  to  the  messages  of  saluta- 
tion we  have  received  from  the  President  of  the  United  States,  from  Mr. 
Taft,  from  Mr.  Bryan,  and  from  other  conventions  and  commercial  bodies. 

The  motion  was  duly  seconded  and  unanimously  prevailed. 

The    responses   to   the   telegrams   were    submitted    as    follows: 

TELEGRAM  TO  PRESIDENT  ROOSEVELT. 

San  Francisco,  California,  October  10,  1908. 
Honorable  Theodore   Roosevelt,   President,   White   House,    Washington,    D.    C. 

The  President  and  Secretary  of  the  Nineteenth  Trans-Mississippi  Com- 
mercial Congress,  which  adjourned  today  after  a  successful  and  most  interest- 
ing session,  have  been  authorized  to  acknowledge  your  valued  telegram  of 
greetings.  We  most  heartily  express  our  appreciation  of  your  warm  words 
of  approval  of  our  work  and  the  interest  you  have  manifested  in  our  delib- 
erations. You  will  be  glad  to  learn  that  the  Congress  went  on  record  in 
favor  of  your  public  lands  policy,  forest  preservation,  water  storage,  land 
reclamation,  harbors,  inland  waterways  and  other  problems  which  you  have 
commended   to   the  people  of  the  Nation. 

TIlo.MAS    I'".    WALSH.    President. 
ARTHUR    F.    FRANCIS,    Secretary. 
(Applause.) 

TELEGRAM    TO    MR.   TAFT. 

San  Francisco,  California,  October  10,  1908. 

Honorable   William    H.    Taft,    Cincinnati,    Ohio. 

Your  telegram  of  greeting  to  the  Nineteenth  Trans-Mississippi  Commercial 
Congress  was  read  to  one  thousand  delegates  amid  scenes  of  Kreat  en- 
thusiasm. We  were  authorized  to  express  the  sentiment  of  the  Congress 
and  thank  you  most  heartily  for  your  good  will  and  interest.  The  Congress 
was  a  success  in  every  particular. 

THOMAS    F.    WALSH,    President. 
ARTHUR    F.    FRANCIS,    Secretary. 
( Applause.) 

TELEGRAM    TO   MR.  BRYAN. 

San   Francisco,   California,   October   10,    1908. 

Honorable    William    Jennings    Bryan.    Lincoln,    Nebraska. 

Mention  of  Lincoln,  Nebraska,  when  your  telegram  to  the  Nineteenth 
Trans-Mississippi  Commercial  Congress  was  read,  occasioned  a  positive 
ovation.  We  have  been  authorized  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  your  mes- 
sage and  to  express  the  thanks  of  the  Congress  for  your  interest.  The  Con- 
gress adjourned   t < >< i ••  i \    after  a  very  successful   session. 

TIlo.MAS    F.    WALSH,    President. 
ARTHUR    F.    FRANCIS,    Secretary. 
(Applause.) 


TRANS-MISSISSIPPI    COMMERCIAL    CONGRESS  231 

TELEGRAM  TO  D.  R.  FRANCIS. 

San  Francisco,  California,  October  10,  1908. 
Honorable  D.  R.  Francis,  St.  Louis,  Missouri. 

Acknowledging  receipt  of  your  telegram,  the  Trans-Mississippi  Com- 
mercial Congress  expresses  its  deep  appreciation  of  vour  kindly  words  and 
regrets  exceedingly  your  inability  to  attend  the  most  successful  commercial 
gathering   ever  held   on   the   Pacific   Coast. 

THOMAS   F.    WALSH,    President. 

ARTHUR    F.    FRANCIS,    Secretary. 
(Applause.) 

TELEGRAM  TO  CHICAGO  DEEP  WATER  CONFERENCE. 

San  Francisco,  California,  October  10,  1908. 
Wm.  F.  Saunders.   Secretary,   St.  Louis,  Missouri. 

Your  telegram  of  cheer  received  and  heartily  appreciated.  It  may 
interest  you  to  learn  that  we  held  the  largest  commercial  gathering  ever 
assembled  on  the  Pacific  Coast,  and  that  the  Congress  reaffirmed  the  resolu- 
tions passed  at  Muskogee  for  a  14-foot  channel  through  the  Mississippi  Val- 
ley, from  the  Gulf  to  the  Lakes. 

THOMAS    F.    WALSH,    President. 

ARTHUR   F.    FRANCIS,    Secretary. 
(Applause.) 

By    Vice-President    Baker: 

We  will  now  resume  the  regular  order  of  business.  The  question  is 
upon    Mr.    Berwick's    amendment. 

By    Mr.    Hart,   of    Louisiana: 

What-  do  I  understand  is  the  order  before  the  house? 

By    Vice-President    Baker: 

It  is  Mr.  Berwick's  amendment  to  the  parcels  post  resolution. 

Mr.  Hart: 

Mr.  President  and  Gentlemen:  I  am  not  here  to  defend  the  commercial 
traveler,  though  if  lie  need  any  defending  from  my  hands,  he  would  get  it  '■* 
he  needed  it.  because  we  all  know  he  is  the  most  innocent  man  on  the  road, 
and  that  when  he  comes  to  the  little  towns  and  has  a  good  time,  the  house 
pays  for  it.  But,  gentlemen,  in  all  sincerity,  the  people  of  this  country,  the 
people  particularly  of  the  small  cities  and  towns,  owe  a  great  deal  to  the  com- 
mercial traveler,  and  there  is  no  class  of  men  which  is  better  posted  as  to  the 
wants  of  the  people  and  the  needs  of  the  people  than  the  commercial  travelers, 
because  they  are  always  on  the  go;  they  are  here  today  and  there  tomorrow. 
They  meet  all  kinds  of  people,  and  under  all  circumstances,  and  their  appre- 
ciation of  what  the  people  want  and  what  the  people  need,  I  submit,  is  entitled 
to  some  weight  and  some  consideration. 

Some  member  of  this  association  said  that  California  was  the  only  state 
that  was  represented  here.  I  do  not  know  what  he  meant  by  that.  Of  course, 
California  is  not  the  only  state  that  is  represented  here.  But  California  is  a 
state  that  has  something  to  say  on  every  good  subject,  and  what  California 
says  is  entitled  to  some  weight,  too.  at  the  hands  of  this  Congress. 

Now,  gentlemen,  if  the  only  matter  before  us  were  the  question  of  a  reduc- 
tion of  postage  rates,  of  course  this  would  be  a  very  simple  thing  to  discuss. 
It  is  an  easy  thing  to  get  up  and  say,  How  can  this  body  go  on  record  as 
being  opposed  to  a  reduction  of  the  postage?  I  say  if  that  were  the  only 
question  before  us,  it  would  not  take  us  long  to  decide  upon  this  matter.  But 
that  is  not  the  proposition  at  all.  We  are  not  like  the  bridegroom  from 
Kansas  in  the  story  that  I  heard  a  short  time  ago,  who  was  injured  in  a  rail- 
road accident,  and  badly  injured.  He  made  a  settlement  with  the  railroad 
company,  and  got  $7,500.  A  friend  asked  him  how  he  came  out  with  the  rail- 
road company  and  he  said,  "I  got  $7,500— $5,000  for  myself  and  $2,500  for  my 
wife."  "Why,"  he  says,  "I  didn't  know  your  wife  was  hurt  in  a  railroad  acci- 
dent." He  replied,  "No,  she  was  not  hurt.  But  as  soon  as  I  saw  the  accident, 
I  had  presence  of  mind  enough  to  kick  her  in  the  face,"      (Laughter.) 

If  all  we  want  is  to  save  a  few  dollars  of  postage  in  the  matter,  let  us 
kick   the  country  merchant  in   the  face,  and  we  will   save  those   few  dollars. 

I  apprehend  we  are  not  going  to  do  anything  of  that  kind.  Mr.  Chairman. 
Just  think  for  one  moment,  gentlemen.  When  the  original  resolution  was  in- 
troduced into   the  committee,   nobody  knew  what  it  meant.      Nobody   that   read 


2J2  REPORT    OF    PROCEEDINGS 

that  resolution  could  tel]  what  it  meant.  We  were  called  upon  to  endorse 
something  that  Postmaster-General  Meyer  had  endorsed,  and  we  knew  nothing 
at  all  about  what  it  was.  That  has  been  changed  today  by  the  resolution 
before  you.  But  we  are  not  prepared,  I  think,  at  this  time,  to  endorse  anything 
where  there  is  so  much  opposition  to  it,  and  opposition  that  has  some  weight, 
even  if  we  do  not  endorse  it  all,  as  there  is  to  this  proposition  now  before  us. 
If  it  be  true,  I  say,  we  must  give  some  weight  to  what  these  commercial 
travelers  say,  because  they  know  more  about  it  than  we  do;  moreover,  I  have 
not  seen  any  great  call  from  the  people  for  this  parcels  post  measure.  It  may 
be  that  it  has  existed,  but  I  have  not  heard  of  it.  Certainly  the  press  do  not 
say  much  about  it,  and  that  is  pretty  good  indication  that  the  people  are  not 
clamoring  for  it. 

Now,  as  I  say,  there  is  some  opposition  to  this  matter,  and  it  seems  to  me 
this  matter  ought  to  be  further  investigated,  that  we  ought  to  see  what  the 
ultimate  result  will  be.  If  it  he  true  that  the  effect  of  this  measure  will  he 
to  destroy  the  small  trader,  I  do  not  believe  there  is  a  single  member  of  this 
organization  that  would  vote  in  favor  of  it.  For,  without  the  small  trader, 
where  would  we  be?  You  have  heard  from  some  of  these  traders  themselves, 
and  they  have  told  you  that  "they  have  to  carry  the  farmer  sometimes  foi 
long  periods,  because  he  has  not  any  money.  He  cannot  order  his  articles  by 
mail  through  the  parcels  post  under  any  such  arrangement  as  that,  and  are 
you  going  for  a  moment  to  endorse  such  a  resolution,  when  it  may  have  the 
effect  that  has  been  here  described?  It  seems  to  me  it  cannot  be  possible  that 
this  Congress  is  going  to  send  out  with  its  approval  something  which  may 
have   such   an   effect  on   so   many  persons. 

By   Vice-President    Baker: 

Your    time    is    up,    Mr.    Hart. 

By   Mr.   H.   L.  Judell: 

I  move  that  the  gentleman's  time  be  extended  five  minutes. 

(The  motion  was  seconded  and  unanimously  carried.) 

Mr.  Hart: 

I  do  not  think  I  will  take  the  entire  five  minutes.  But  let  us  go  back  and 
let  us  look  at  the  matter  in  a  sensible  light.  We  do  not  want  to  decide  this  by 
a  four  to  five  or  a  seven  to  eight  vote,  or  anything  of  that  kind.  It  had  to  be 
decided  in  the  committee,  and  had  to  pass  the  committee  in  some  form,  whether 
favorable  or  unfavorable,  or  whether  it  was  a  large  or  small  majority — that 
is  not  the  purpose  here.  But  do  we  want  to  send  out,  with  our  approval,  and 
with  a  small  majority,  a  measure  of  this  importance — because  the  vote  either 
way  is  going  to  be  so  very  small — a  measure  which  may  be  fraught  with 
the  greatest  disasters  and  the  greatest  losses  in  the  future  to  people  whom 
we  most  like?  Why,  gentlemen,  you  all  know  that  poem  written  by  some 
English  poet  in  reference  to  the  manhood  of  his  country.  You  may  build  up 
your  department  stores  and  your  corporations  in  this  way — I  have  nothing  to 
say  against  them,  either — hut  you  cannot  build  up  the  small  man.  They  do 
not  have  corporations  in  these  little  towns.  The  corner  store  is  the  most  im- 
portant place  in  it.  Don't  we  know  that  some  great  political  questions  are 
settled  over  the  cracker  barrels  and  great  games  of  checkers  there  determined, 
the  interest  in  which  is  not  exceeded  by  the  great  baseball  games  now  being 
played  in   the  East? 

Don't  let  us  determine  these  things  too  hastily.  Lei  us  give  some  further 
subsequent  study  to  this  matter,  our  action  upon  which  may  be  fraught  with 
so  much  that  is  serious  in  its  consequences.  I  happened  to  mention  baseball. 
That  reminds  me  that  I  saw  a  cartoon  in  the  paper  yesterday,  I  think,  where 
Mathewson,  the  great  New  York  pitcher,  for  whom  Chicago  had  offered 
$50,000,  and  which  was  refused.  After  he  lost  the  deciding  game,  he  went  down 
to  thirty  cents.  Do  not  let  us  reduce  the  small  trader  to  thirty  cents.  Let  us 
build  him  up.  ami  let  these  commercial  travelers  count  for  something,  be- 
cause they  know  what  they  are  talking  about.  We  are  all  talking  theoreti- 
cally. How  many  of  us  go  out  into  the  country  and  see  these  country  stores? 
Not  one  in  a  hundred.  But  all  of  these  commercial  travelers  go,  and  I  say  I 
will  take  their  word  as  soon  as  the  word  of  any  man  in  the  world,  and  cer- 
tainly in  this  case  I  will  take  the  word  of  these  commercial  travelers  rather 
than  the  word  of  those  who  do  not  go  out  and  see  the"  people.      (Applause.) 

By  Mr.  Frank  M.  Connolly,  of  California! 

Ladies  and  Gentlemen  of  this  Trans-Mississippi  <'nmmercial  Congress: 
We   have   heard  from   the   officials   of   the   Postotiice    Department   of   San   Fran- 


TRANS-MISSISSIPPI    COMMERCIAL    CONGRESS  233 

cisco  this  morning-.  We  have  heard  many  stories  of  why  we  should  back  up 
the  commercial  travelers,  help  them  out  in  the  parcels  post  matter  and  not 
endorse  the  parcels  post.  I  stand  before  you  representing-  the  retail  grocers 
and  merchants  of  the  western  country  this  side  of  the  Mississippi  River. 
The  national  association,  of  which  I  am  a  member  of  the  executive  board, 
covers  all  of  the  territory  this  side  of  the  Mississippi  River,  and  I  am  very 
much  surprised  to  find  a  congress  of  representatives  of  the  states  and  terri- 
tories this  side  of  the  Mississippi  River  arranging  to  endorse  a  parcels  post 
that  will  transfer  the  business  of  this  section  of  the  country  into  the  larger 
cities,  such  as  Chicago  and  New  York,  with  large  mail-order  houses.  (Ap- 
plause.) 

You  cannot  build  up  this  Western  country  with  the  farmer  alone.  You 
cannot  build  up  this  Western  country  with  your  commercial  traveler  alone. 
You  must  have  the  retail  merchant,  the  man  who  helps  the  farmer  in  his  time 
of  need,  the  man  who  is  a  bureau  of  information,  the  man  who  is  the  manu- 
facturers' distributing  point  to  the  consumer,  and  you  must  not  turn  over  to 
the  large  mail-order  houses  of  the  East  the  business  that  belongs  to  the 
country  merchant.  You  take  out  of  these  small  settlements  these  whistling 
stations  throughout  the  West,  where  they  have  a  small  country  store,  and  in 
that  store  a  postoffice  is  situated  also — you  take  that  country  merchant,  where 
he  has  to  write  out  a  money  order  to  Montgomery  Ward  &  Company,  or  to 
Sears,  Roebuck  &  Company,  of  Chicago,  for  one  of  his  customers  he  has  car- 
ried for  nine  months,  and  when  that  customer's  crops  have  turned  the  money 
into  him,  he  goes  and  pays  that  merchant  up  and  sends  the  balance  of  it  to 
Chicago,  do  you  think  that  as  business  men,  as  representatives  of  the  larger 
section  of  our  country,  that  we  should  endorse  anything  of  that  kind?  I 
want  to  say  to  you  that  Postmaster-General  Meyer  and  his  representatives 
in  San  Francisco  are  not  acting  properly  in  saying  to  this  Congress  that  they 
should  endorse  anything  of  this  kind,  any  more  than  he  was  when  he  sent 
those  letters  to  our  organization,  asking  our  criticism  of  his  style  of  parcels 
post,  and  in  those  letters  included  two  discredited  members  of  our  organiza- 
tion as  having  based  opinions  in  favor  of  this  act.  We  answered  in  no  un- 
certain terms,  and  asked  him  to  use  the  free  franking  system  that  he  used 
in  sending  those  letters  throughout  the  country,  to  send  our  criticisms  out 
to  those  commercial  bodies,  and  let  them  pass  on  them.  And  was  it  done? 
No.  The  parcels  post  is  a  hobby  with  the  postoffice  officials,  just  as  much  as 
it  is  a  hobby  with  lots  of  other  people  who  have  come  from  foreign  coun- 
tries. Our  friend,  Mr.  Berwick,  says  it  is  successful  in  foreign  countries.  It 
is  successfully  carried  on  in  a  small  country  like  Switzerland.  But  you  de- 
liver packages  from  New  York  to  Los  Angeles  at  the  price  Postmaster-General 
Meyer  proposes,  and  deliver  them  from  Chicago  to  the  Philippine  Islands  at 
twelve  cents  a  pound,  and  instead  of  a  deficit  of  $5,000,000  that  we  have  had 
for  many  years  past  in  the  Postoffice  Department,  we  will  have  a  deficit  of 
$150  000,000,  that  seventy  per  cent  of  the  country  must  pay  for  to  help  out 
fifteen  per  cent  of  the  rural  members   of  the   community.      (Applause.) 

Mr.   C.  J.  Hutehins,  of  Hawaii: 

Members  of  the  Trans-Mississippi  Commercial  Congress:  Perhaps  the 
Territory  of  Hawaii  views  this  matter  from  a  different  standpoint  from  that 
which  you  gentlemen  located  on  the  mainland  may  view  it.  It  strikes  me, 
as  a  representative  of  Hawaii  at  this  Congress,  that  the  one  great  item  which 
seems  to  have  been  overlooked  in  this  matter  is  the  equity  of  the  measure  pro- 
posed. We  in  Hawaii  know  comparatively  little  of  the  politics  and  of  the 
methods  of  business  pursued  on  the  mainland.  We  take  it  for  what  it  is  given, 
the  face  of  it,  what  we  read  in  the  newspapers,  and  we  see  that  there  is  a 
great  fight  here  at  the  present  time  against  discrimination  in  freight  rates,  and 
that  where  the  railroads  make  discriminations  they  are  immediately  hauled 
up  before  the  Interstate  Commerce  Commission  and  they  are  indicted  and  fined 
for  carrying  on  business  which  works  an  injustice  to  one  merchant  as  against 
another  for  hauling  these  goods  at  a  less  price  for  a  longer  haul  than  for  a 
shorter  haul.  Suppose  that  a  package  weighing  eleven  pounds  was  manufac- 
tured in  the  city  of  New  York,  and  another  package  in  the  same  place.  One  of 
them  was  shipped  to  Jersey  City  and  the  other  package  was  shipped  to  Hilo, 
in  the  Island  of  Hawaii,  both  packages  being  exactly  at  the  same  rate.  The 
merchant  in  Honolulu  pays  freight  on  his  goods,  from  New  Fork  to  Honolulu, 
and  to  Hilo  and  then  if  the  consumer  in  Hilo  desires  anything  in  that  line, 
he  sends  to'Honolulu  and  orders  it  sent  to  him  by  mail.  There  are  no  rural 
deliveries  over  the  water  in  Honolulu,  and  that  merchant  in  Honolulu  must 
nav  the  freight  rate  or  the  package  rate  of  twelve  cents  a  pound,  the  same 
as  the  merchant  in  Jersey  City  has  to  pay  it,  and  yet  at  the  same  time  the 
merchant  in  Honolulu  has  the  freight  to  pay  from  New  York  to  Honolulu  on 
that  same  stuff.  If  there  is  any  equity  at  all  in  this  matter,  why  is  it  that 
you    only    charge    twelve    cents    a    pound    from    New    \  ork    to    Jersey    City    or 


234  REPORT   OF  PROCEEDINGS 

Philadelphia  and  then  charge  the  same  price  to  Honolulu?  Is  that  equitable? 
Perhaps  we  do  not  understand  matters  down  there.  But  if  it  is  wrong  for  a 
railroad  company  to  make  a  longer  haul  at  the  same  price  or  a  less  price  than 
it  does  a  short  haul,  is  it  any  greater  wrong  for  the  Postoffiee  Department  to 
charge  the  same  rate  on  those  goods  on  a  longer  haul  of  6000  miles  than  it  is 
for  a  haul  of  sixty  miles?     Am  I  right,  or  am  1  wrong?     (Applause.) 

We  may  entirely  misunderstand  this  question.  There  are  arguments,  un- 
doubtedly in  its  favor,  and  there  are  arguments  against  it.  The  way  the 
people  at  Hawaii,  however,  have  looked  at  that  matter  is  this:  That 
we  consented  to  be  annexed  to  the  United  States,  and  you  did  annex  us  and  we 
have  contributed  since  that  time  over  $1,000,000  a  year  to  Uncle  Sam's  treasury, 
and  we  received  almost  nothing  in  return  until  the  United  States  Government 
at  recent  sessions  of  Congress  voted  a  sufficient  amount  to  build  up  Pearl 
Harbor — and  you  put  into  force  at  Hawaii  a  coastwise  shipping  bill,  and  it 
caused  me  and  my  wife  in  the  month  of  January  last  to  travel  on  a  freight  boat 
between  the  Islands  and  San  Francisco.  We  ask  you,  in  Heaven's  name,  not  to 
stick  a  knife  into  our  backs,  and  not  to  recommend  something  to  Congress 
that  will  ruin  our  merchants,  for  we  say  it  is  not  right.  If  the  merchants  in 
Honolulu  must  compete  at  the  same  rate  and  upon  the  same  terms  with  some- 
body six  or  eight  thousand  miles  away  in  New  York  City,  we  can  see  how  the 
merchant  of  Honolulu  or  of  the  Hawaiian  Islands  is  going  to  suffer.  In  fact, 
we  do  not  see  how  he  can  live.  But,  as  I  said  before,  we  do  not  view  this 
thing  as  you  people  view  it.  We  may  be  all  mistaken  in  our  views.  But,  as 
we  now  look  at  it,  those  are  our  views.      (Applause.) 

Mr.   Arthur   G.   Fisk,   Postmaster,    San    Francisco: 

Mr.  President,  I  do  not  desire  to  speak  to  the  question,  but  simply  rise  to 
a  question  of  personal  privilege.  My  attention  has  been  called  to  statements 
appearing  in  the  press  this  morning,  to  the  effect  that  I  was  here  directed 
by  the  Postmaster-General  by  wire  to  advocate  this  measure.  I  simply  wish  to 
state  that  that  is  not  so.  I  do  not  know  anything  about  what  the  Postmaster- 
General  wants.  I  have  received  no  instructions  from  him  in  this  connection 
whatever.  I  simply  know  that  he  has  sent  these  recommendations  to  the 
Congress,  that  I  am  accredited  here  as  a  representative  of  the  Postoffiee  De- 
partment, and  that  they  stand  for  these  recommendations.  I  therefore  desire 
that  it  be  known  that  I  am  not  acting:  under  directions  of  the  Postmaster- 
General  at  all  in  this  matter. 

Mr.  Fred  Moore,  of  the  San  Francisco  "Examiner": 

Mr.  Chairman,  as  a  member  of  the  Press  Committee  here,  I  would  like  to 
ask  for  the  opportunity  of  making  a  little  explanation  of  that  question  about 
what  appeared  in  the  paper  this  morning.  1  do  not  want  to  question  Post- 
master Fisk's  veracity,  but  I  think  he  has  questioned  mine,  because  I  made  that 
statement  in  the  "Examiner"  this  morning,  that  Postmaster  Fisk  was  here 
under  telegraphic  instructions  from  Postmaster-General  Meyer  to  take  up  this 
matter.  I  would  have  no  reason  whatever  for  making  that  statement  of  the 
matter,  unless  I  supposed  it  was  true,  and  to  the  best  of  my  recollection,  I 
understood  Postmaster  Fisk  to  make  that  statement  tome  yesterday,  just  about 
where  he  is  sitting,  and  I  know  that  the  rest  of  the  men  of  the  newspapers 
understood  the  statement  in  that  way;  but  we  may  have  misunderstood  him. 

By    Mr.   Fisk: 

You  certainly  did  misunderstand  me.  What  I  intended  to  convey  was 
that  I  had  been  appointed  by  telegraphic  orders,  accredited  to  this  con- 
vention, that  I  have  no  instructions  whatever  relating  to  the  parcels  post, 
postal  savings  banks,  or  anything  else — my  appointment  was  made  some 
time  ago,  and  I  presented  my  credentials  to  this  convention,  as  the  Sec- 
retary will  inform  you,  early  the  day  that  they  first  convened.  I  had  no 
orders  of  any  kind  in  connection  with  the  matter — I  was  simply  accredited 
to  represent  the  Postoffiee  in  this  convention.  Yon  certainly  misunder- 
stood me. 

By   Mr.   Moore: 

Mr.  Fisk,  the  misunderstanding  came  about  in  this  way:  The  Associated 
Press  and  other  papers  had  the  same  story  practically  that  I  did,  and  the 
question  that  was  asked  you  first  was  if  you  were  here  at  the  Congress 
in  connection  with  the  parcels  post,  and    we    understood    your    answer    to 


TRANS-MISSISSIPPI    COMMERCIAL    CONGRESS  235 

be    that    you    had    been    delegated    by    telegraph    from    Postmaster-General 
Meyer  to  take  the  matter  up  here.    That  is  the  way  we  understood  it. 

By    Mr.    Fisk: 

You  may  have  so  understood  it,  but  you  misunderstood  it.  I  certainly 
did  not  intend  to  convey  any  such  meaning  as  that. 

By   Mr.   Moore: 

So,  if  there  was  a  misstatement  in  the  paper,  it  was  not  because  the 
newspapers  sought  to  put  a  misstatement  in  their  report,  but  simply  that 
there  was  a  misunderstanding.  I  want  to  put  the  newspapers  right,  that 
we  do  not  want  to  make  a  statement  that  would  in  any  way  mix  things  up 
with  you  in  the  Postoffice  Department,  or  deceive  the  public. 

By   Mr.   Fisk: 

I  do  not  wish  to  imply  that  you  did.  I  am  satisfied  that  you  misunder- 
stood my  answer  to  you  when  I  said  I  was  here  under  telegraphic  creden- 
tials simply  as  representing  the  Postoffice  Department  as  a  delegate  to  this 
convention,  and  not  representing  the  parcels  post  matter  at  all. 

By  Mr.  Berwick: 

I  believe,  Mr.  Chairman,  that  I  have  five  minutes  to  reply  to  the  argu- 
ments that  have  been  made. 

By    Vice-President    Baker: 

The  gentleman,  under  the  rules,  has  a  second  reply  of  five  minutes. 

By  Mr.   Berwick: 

Mr.  President  and  Gentlemen:  The  point  to  which  I  reply  in  the  main  is 
this  mail-order  house  argument.  I  think  I  can  prove  to  you,  perhaps,  that 
the  lack  of  a  parcels  post  tends  to  injure  the  country  merchant  far  more  than 
the  parcels  post  at  the  lower  rates  proposed  would  injure  him,  and  I  will  tell 
you  why.  The  gentleman  from  Oregon  has  told  you  that  the  farmer  is  not 
entirely  a  fool.  He  is  something  of  a  keen  trader.  He  knows  the  value  of  his 
hard-earned  dollars.  He  is  not  confined  to  sending  through  the  postoffice  to 
Chicago.  He  can  get  his  goods  from  Chicago  by  freight.  You  have  heard 
that  he  does  so,  and  frequently.  These  gentlemen  have  testified  here  that 
goods  come  in  in  large  quantities  from  Chicago  by  freight.  I  took  the  pains, 
only  last  week,  in  looking  over  the  catalogue  of  Dover  &  Co.,  some  large 
house  in  Chicago,  to  see  what  the  average  weight  per  hundred  pounds  was 
between  Chicago  and  the  average  point  in  the  Union,  including  Alaska  and 
California.  I  found  that  the  average  rate  was  sixty-three  cents  per  hundred 
pounds.  But,  as  you  know,  to  avail  himself  of  that  rate,  he  must  pay  for  a 
minimum  of  a  hundred  pounds.  If  he  gets  only  four  pounds,  or  one  pound, 
or  if  he  gets  five  pounds  by  freight,  he  pays  the  full  sixty-three  cents — pays 
for  the  carriage  of  the  hundred  pounds.  Now,  I  am  not  conjuring  up  any 
fictitious  instance,  or  raising  any  bugaboo  to  fight,  gentlemen.  You  know 
that  he  gets  his  goods  when  he  wants  to  from  Chicago.  You  have  come  here 
and  said  so  yourselves.  What  does  he  do  now  if  he  wants  a  five-pound  or  a 
ten-pound  article  in  Chicago,  that  his  local  merchant  does  not  carry,  and 
there  are  lots  of  those  things  that  local  merchants  do  not  always  carry? 
He  says,  "I  must  send  to  Chicago  for  this  five-pound  article.  I  can't  get  it 
through  the  mail — they  won't  carry  five-pound  articles.  Four  pounds  is  the 
limit.  By  express  it  will  cost  me  quite  a  lot  of  money."  I  asked  in  Pacific 
Grove  what  the  rate  from  here  to  New  York  for  ten  pounds  would  be,  and 
they  said  $2.35 — or  rather,  eleven  pounds,  from  Pacific  Grove  to  New  York. 
That  is  where  I  live,  in  Pacific  Grove — the  best  place  in  the  world  to  live  in, 
too — $2.35  was  the  rate.  So  the  person  says  to  himself,  "Look  here.  I  can 
get  my  goods  by  freight,  waiting  two  or  three  weeks  longer,  for  a  mere  trifle. 
What  I  will  do  is.  I  have  to  pay  for  the  hundred  pounds,  and  I  will  make  my 
order  for-  a  full  hundred  pounds."  So,  instead  of  sending  for  the  one  desired 
article,  he  looks  up  and  down  these  catalogues,  and  he  makes  up  his  bill  to  a 
hundred  pounds  of  goods.  He  gets  the  ninety-five  pounds  practically  free,  so 
far  as  transportation  is  concerned — pays  nothing  on  it.  If  he  could  have  sent 
for  the  five-pound  article  the  country  merchant  would  have  lost  that  five 
pounds,    but   the    five    pounds    would    have    been    all    that    he    would    have    lost. 


236  REPORT    OF    PROCEEDINGS 

Because  there  is  no  parcels  post  he  makes  up  a  bill  for  a  hundred  pounds  of 
freight,  and  the  country  merchant  loses  ninety-five  pounds  of  goods  of  some 
sort. 

Now,  that  is  an  instance  that  you  men  who  live  in  the  country  can  dupli- 
cate from  your  own  experience.  You  know  the  case  is  so.  It  is  really 
detrimental  to  the  retail  trader  that  there  is  no  parcels  post.  There  would 
be  far  more  goods  received  from  Chicago  by  freight,  if  the  postoffice  would 
carry  packages  up  to  eleven  pounds  at  reasonable  rates. 

Now,  it  is  said  about  this  expense  that  the  expense  will  be  very  large. 
Gentlemen,  the  expense  will  not  be  very  large.  It  does  not  cost  the  department 
any  twelve  cents  a  pound  for  carrying  goods.  It  costs  them  much  less  than 
that.  And  if  the  rural  free  carriers  were  allowed  to  take  packages  from  the 
initial  point  on  their  routes  to  the  end  of  their  routes,  you  would  make 
money  on  those  rural  free  delivery  routes,  instead  of  losing  money  upon  them. 
You  all  know,  you  men  who  are  merchants,  if  you  have  a  hundred  clerks  em- 
ployed, each  of  them  doing  one-third  of  a  day's  work  in  a  day,  you  are  going 
to  lose  money.  If  you  have  business  to  employ  them  the  whole  day  you  will 
be  making  money.  That  is  the  condition  on  the  rural  free  delivery  routes. 
They  lose  money  because  the  average  carrier  does  not  carry  anything  like 
his  full  capacity.  If  he  carried  his  full  capacity,  I  do  not  mean  of  whisky  or 
anything  of  that  sort,  but  I  mean  his  full  capacity  of  mail  matter,  on  his 
route,  he  would  then  reimburse  the  department  and  leave  a  profit  with  the 
department.     So  you  need  fear  no  bogy  of  that  kind. 

As  to  what  is  being  paid  from  New  York,  what  the  cost  is  from  the 
Pacific  Coast,  I  told  you  the  other  day  that  to  my  certain  knowledge,  and  to 
yours  if  you  care  to  verify  this  thing  yourself,  the  express  companies  are 
carrying  at  this  very  minute,  for  the  British  public,  packages  from  nothing 
up  to  eleven  pounds  at  the  flat  rate  of  twenty-five  cents  per  package,  from 
New  York  to  any  point  of  the  Union  on  the  mainland.  If  they  can  do  that 
for  the  British  Government,  it  is  done  at  a  profit.  They  do  not  do  it  for  love. 
If  they  can  do  that  for  the  Government,  they  can  carry  goods  equally  cheaply 
for  you.  Do  you  really  think,  you  country  merchants  who  are  here,  that  it 
would  have  hurt  your  customers  if  you  paid  less  freight  on  your  goods  and 
less  express?  I  suppose  the  law  is  in  trade,  the  cheaper  you  can  get  the 
goods  the  cheaper  you  can  sell  them. 

Mr.  Chairman,  I  thank  you  for  the  privilege  granted  me,  and,  gentlemen, 
I  leave  the  matter  to  you,  as  to  how  you  shall  vote.  But  do  credit  to  the 
Trans-Mississippi    Commercial    Congress.       (Applause.) 

By  Chairman  Harris: 

Members  of  the  Trans-Mississippi  Commercial  Congress:  I  shall  hold  my 
watch  open  this  time,  as  it  is  not  my  desire,  nor  is  it  my  intention  to  consume 
more  than  five  minutes  of  your  time. 

I  reluctantly  made  myself  conspicuous  this  morning  in  insisting  upon 
an  open  forum  and  a  free  debate.  I  did  that,  not  alone  because  that  speaks 
my  inner  consciousness  of  right,  but  I  did  it.  representing  in  my  official 
capacity,  the  Committee  on  Resolutions.  Unfortunately,  the  impression  went 
out  of  the  committee  room  that  unfair  play  had  been  or  might  be  indulged  in. 
In  behalf  of  all  the  members  of  the  Committee  on  Resolutions,  and  as  their 
chairman,  I  have  done  all  I  could  to  dispel  that  misunderstanding.  One  of 
my  dearest  friends,  in  moving  to  adjourn,  suggested  that  his  motion  was 
prompted  somewhat  with  a  desire  to  avoid  any  ill-feeling.  There  is  upon  my 
part  no  ill-feeling.  I  am  sure  that  upon  the  part  of  my  friend,  the  Governor, 
there  is  no  ill-feeling — 

By  Mr.  J.  J.  Gosper,  of  California: 
You  love  me,  do  you? 

Chairman  Harris: 

I  do  right  now,  and  I  could  fight  you.  by  the  way,  and  if  you  outvoted  me, 
I  could  love  you  then. 

Speaking  now  just  for  a  moment  to  the  merits  of  the  resolution,  T  call 
attention  of  each  of  you  to  the  fact  that  this  resolution  is  not  one  intended 
to,  or  in  my  judgment  calculated  to,  injure  the  retail  merchant.  I  live  in  a 
small  city  in  the  great  state  of  Texas.  Our  population  is  more  than  eighty 
per  cent  rural.  If  I  were  a  candidate  for  office,  1  should  want  the  support  of 
the  retail  merchants  of  the  country,  and  I  should  ask  it,  based  particularly 
upon  my  support  of  this  resolution.  (Applause,  i  If  I  sought  still  more  active 
support,  if  I  were  very  anxious  to  get  right  before  the  puhlic,  I  should  cer- 
tainly establish  most  intimate  and  cordial  relations  with  those  distinguished 
advance  agents  of  civilization,  the  commercial  travelers  of  America.  If  I 
tbought  that  this  resolution  would  take  the  bread  from  out  of  the  mouth  of  a 


TRANS-MISSISSIPPI    COMMERCIAL    CONGRESS  237 

single  commercial  traveler,  if  I  thought  it  would  deprive  the  wife  of  an 
additional  silk  dress,  if  I  thought  it  would  deprive  the  child  of  a  month's 
attendance  at  school,  I  should  come  to  a  different  conclusion.  My  judgment, 
after  some  investigation  of  the  subject,  after  hearing  it  debated  for  hours 
and  days  at  the  Muskogee  and  other  conventions,  is  that  were  the  law  fully 
enforced  as  proposed  by  the  Postmaster-General,  we  would  see  the  commercial 
traveler  just  as  prosperous,  just  as  smiling,  just  as  happy  and  after  6  p.  m. 
just  as  jovial,  and  if  he  chose,  just  as  full,  as  he  would  be  were  this  resolution 
turned  down.      (Applause.) 

I  challenge  the  theory  that  this  resolution  is  destructive  of  his  rights,  that 
it  is  destructive  of  his  prosperitjr,  or  that  it  will   put  him  out  of  business.     I 
do   not   believe,   as  a   philosopher    of   some  years'    standing,    that   you   can   ever 
eliminate   the   personal   equation    from   matters   of   commerce    and    trade.      (Ap- 
plause.)     I  do  not  believe  the  silent  and  swift  messenger,   the  mail,    can   ever 
take  the  place  of  the  high-grade  talk  and  the  persuasive  tongue  of  some  mem- 
ber  of   the   United   Commercial   Travelers'    Association    or    the    Travelers'    Pro- 
tective Association.     Do  not  vote  upon  this  resolution  as  if  we  were  attempting 
to  put  the  knife  to  honorable  men  engaged  in  honorable  enterprises.      Do  not 
treat  it  as  being  destructive  of  the  welfare  of  that  very  important  branch  of 
our  business  and  the  people  engaged  in  it,  the  retail  trade.     It  is  nothing  of  the 
sort.      You    are    misled.      You    are    laboring    under    misapprehensions,    and    the 
mother  of  every  misapprehension  is  fear  in  the  human  heart.     You  are  afraid 
that  you  will   be   hurt,   and  therefore  you  believe  that   you  will  be  hurt.      The 
colliers  of  Newcastle,  and   the  coal   diggers  of  Cornwall,   opposed   the   opening 
of  shafts  for  air  and  light.     The   scythe  and  cradlemen    of  Ohio  and  Virginia 
dashed  in  pieces  the  first  mowing  and  reaping  machines.     Advance  has.  always 
been    met   and    stopped    temporarily,    but    never    permanently    checked,    always 
by   the    demand   of   fear.      (Applause.)      There    is    in    history   a    certain   Mother 
Partington,   who   even   sought  to  check    the  advance   of  the   tide   with   the   im- 
plement of  the  household,   the  broom.     It  cannot  be  done.     You  might  as  well 
get  in  line.     We  are  living  in  a  progressive  age,  in  the  most  progressive  section 
of   the   United   States,   and   I   should   much   regret   that   these    men    of   thought, 
these  men  of  action,  these  men  who  are  of  importance  in  their  homes  or  they 
would  not  be   here — I   should  much   regret  to   see   them   take  a  backward   step 
and  attempt  to  throttle  the  administration,  which  is  seeking,  in  my  judgment, 
to   confer  a  boon   and  confer  benefits  upon   the   whole   people.      (Applause.)      I 
do  not  know  whether  I  am  with  the  majority  or  with  the  minority,  and  so  far 
as  my  sentiments  are  concerned,  I  do  not  care. 

By  Mr.  J.  J.  Gosper: 

I  am  not  going  to  call  the  gentleman  to  order,  but  I  note  that  his  time  is 
up.  I  am  in  the  habit  of  heaping  fire  upon  the  heads  of  my  enemies.  The 
gentleman's  five  minutes  have  expired,  and  therefore  I  move  you  that  this 
eloquent  orator  be  permitted  to  take  another  five  minutes. 

(The  motion  was  seconded  and  unanimously  prevailed.) 

Chairman  Harris: 

Mr.  Vice-President,  I  am  willing  to  accept  the  fire  or  the  baptism  of  blood, 
if  necessary,  but  I  object  to  being  described  and  will  not  submit  to  being 
described  as'the  enemy  of  the  gentleman  from  Los  Angeles. 

I  know  I  have  talked  as  much  as  I  should.  NotTiing  could  give  me,  I 
believe  greater  satisfaction  than  t"d  convince  the  opponents  of  this  resolution 
that  it'  does  not  and  can  not  have  the  effect  which  they  assume.  I  am  in 
sympathy  with  the  gentlemen  who  oppose  the  parcels  post  to  the  extent  that  I 
sympathize  with  their  fears,  sympathize  with  their  doubts,  sympathize  with 
your  dreads  sympathize  with  your  doubts.  Your  dreads  are  without  founda- 
tion' your  fears  have  no  basis  in  fact;_and  your  doubts  shouM  disappear  with 
your  fears  and  your  dreads.  Do  not  be  afraid  there  will  ever  come  a  time  in 
the  economy  of  nature  that  men  of  the  ability,  men  of  the  action,  and  men  of 
the  determination  of  men  of  the  commercial  travelers,  call  them  by  whatever 
name  you  will— there  never  will  come  a  time  when  your  services,  gentlemen, 
will  not  be  sought  and  wanted,  and  claimed  and  demanded  at  a  fair  compen- 
sation and  an  honest  wage.  (Applause.)  Do  not  be  afraid.  Do  not  be  afraid 
of  a  hidden  something,  which  lays  its  finger  upon  your  heart,  and  places  upon 
vour  brow  or  seeks  to  place  the  cold  finger  of  commercial  death.  Vote  as  you 
see  it  As  for  me,  it  will  be  but  one  vote  in  favor  of  the  parcels  post — that 
vote  shall  be  registered  by  me.  If  there  be  another  here  who  feels  as  I  do 
about  it  I  hope  he  will  have  the  courage  to  show  it,  though  he  looks  into  the 
most  active  delegation  opposed  to  it,  possibly  to  be  conjured  upon  this  or  any 
other  coast. 


L'Ms  REPORT    OF    PROCEEDINGS 

I  have  no  inure  fear  in  my  heart  that  you  will  he  able  to  check  the  ad- 
vance of  this  administration,  and  I  personally  am  a  life-long  Democrat — I 
have  no  more  fear  that  you  will  be  able  to  check  t he  economic  forward  move- 
ment of  this,  and  I  hope,  the  coming  administration,  than  I  am  afraid  that 
earthquake  and  fire  shall  destroy  this  city  forever  and  ever.  I  have  no  more 
dread,  no  more  apprehension  of  that  than  I  have  that  you  can  hide  the 
beauties  of  the  women  of  San  Francisco  and  of  the  Pacific  Coast  by  the 
tergiversations  of  a  Merry  Widow  hat.      (Applause.) 

(Cries  of  "Roll  call.") 

By  Mr.  D.  P.  Marum,  of  Oklahoma: 

I  would  make  this  as  a  motion,  Mr.  Chairman,  that  the  states  who  have 
sent  more  than  thirty  delegates,  and  therefore  are  entitled  to  thirty  votes, 
whether  they  are  represented  here  or  not,  be  entitled  to  that  number  of 
votes  in  the  record,  if  the  record  of  the  Congress  shows  that  they  are  en- 
titled to  them,  and  that  all  other  states  be  entitled  to  the  same  votes  that 
we  had  on  other  questions — when  we  had  less  than  ten,  that  we  have  ten 
votes  for  a  state,  but  any  of  the  states  that  had  more  than  thirty  people 
here  and  were  entitled  to  thirty  votes,  whether  they  have  them  on  the  floor 
at  this  time,  or  not,  be  entitled  to  cast  the  thirty  votes  now  as  they  would  be 
if  present. 

By   Vice-President   Baker: 

Do  you  want  a  man  to  vote  whether  he  is  here  or  not? 

By   Mr.   Marum: 

I  want  the  states  that  sent  their  delegates  to  this  convention,  whether 
they  have  them  present  or  not,  to  vote  the  thirty  votes  as  shown  by  the 
roll  of  the  Secretary.  He  has  the  delegates  from  every  state,  and  can 
announce  the  votes  to  which  each  state  is  entitled.  A  great  many  are  not 
here  from  Kansas  and  from  Colorado,  who  had  more  than  thirty  votes,  and 
I  would  not  like  to  see  their  votes  cut  down.  California,  of  course,  will 
have  the  thirty  votes  here. 

By   Vice-President   Baker: 

Is  there  a  second  to  that  motion?  There  is  no  second  to  the  motion. 

By   Secretary    Francis: 

Before  the  vote  is  taken,  it  should  be  explained  that  there  is  a  provision 
of  the  by-laws  which  regulates  our  procedure;  that  no  state  has  more  than 
thirty  votes,  and  no  state  less  than  ten  votes,  and  should  there  be  more  than 
thirty  in  the  delegation,  but  only  seventeen  or  twenty  in  their  seats,  the 
state  having  that  seventeen  or  twenty  has  only  seventeen  or  twenty  votes, 
as  the  case  may  be;  that  the  delegates  seated  and  present  are  to  be  counted 
only. 

By   Vice-President   Baker: 

You  have  heard  the  Secretary's  explanation  that  a  man  must  be  here 
to  vote.  I  think  that  is  correct,  above  the  ten.  Of  course,  if  there  are  not 
ten  here,  the  state  has  the  ten  votes  in  any  event. 

By  .Mr.  Arthur  It.   Brlggs,  «if  California: 

.Air.  Chairman.  Ladi<  s  and  Gentlemen  and  Members  of  the  Congress:  1 
have  listened  with  extreme  patience  to  the  discussion  of  this  important  <|ties- 
ii.  in,  and  must  say  that  I  am  amazed  at  the  efforts  that  have  been  made  to 
call  it  cowardice  to  vote  for  or  against  it,  or  bravery  to  do  likewise.  This  is 
not  a  question  of  bravery  or  cowardice.  Bach  of  us  has  taken  the  matter 
under  consideration,  and  whatever  our  action  may  be,  it  will  be  a  matter  of 
conscience  and  of  judgment.  I  have  also  been  amazed  at  the  attempt  to  foist 
an   expression   which  comes  from  the  President  of  the  United  States,   that  this 


TRANS-MISSISSIPPI    COMMERCIAL    CONGRESS  239 

meeting  might  be  influenced  thereby.  I  have  also  been  amazed  that  the  Post- 
master-General, Mr.  Meyer,  has  been  quoted  here  to  show  what  we  ought  to 
do,  because  he  thinks  so  and  so  of  it,  or  what  he  thinks  of  it.  The  fact  of 
it  is,  the  responsibility  rests  upon  us.  I.  for  one,  shall  act  upon  my  own 
judgment,  and  on  my  conscience  I  am  opposed  to  this  parcels  post.  (Applause.) 
And  I  believe — I  do  not  care  whether  my  friend  from  Galveston  thinks  it  is 
cowardice  for  me  to  stand  against  it,  or  whether  it  is  bravery  to  stand  for  it — 
I  say  that  if  we  pass  it  up  to  ourselves  individually  to  settle  this  question, 
that  we  will  come  to  a  fair  and  a  right  and  a  proper  conclusion.  It  was  this 
very  feature  that  led  me  to  ask  to  have  this  matter  postponed  until  12:30 
o'clock  this  afternoon.  Now,  Mr.  Chairman,  before  taking  my  seat,  and  per- 
haps I  have  exhausted  my  time,  I  want  to  say  that  it  is  evident  that  there  is 
a  very  wide  division  in  this  Congress  upon  the  subject,  and  whatever  we 
may  do  now,  it  will  perhaps  be  a  close  vote,  and  I  believe  that  if  we  act  upon 
it  at  all,  that  we  will  act  to  our  disadvantage,  because  we  shall  not  express 
the  sentiment  of  this  Congress. 

By  Mr.   Orrin  Henderson,  of  United  Travelers'  Association: 

Mr.  Chairman:  Personally  I  am  against  this  bill,  and  I  am  not  going 
to  make  any  talk  along  those  lines.  I  am  going  to  quote  you  the  actual 
facts  that  exist  today  under  the  parcels  post,  as  expressed  by  Mr.  Darling, 
at  your  eighteenth  convention.     He  said: 

"Gentlemen  of  the  Convention:  We  have  had  an  example  that:  we  will 
remember  as  long  as  we  draw  the  breatli  of  life  of  the — 

By    Mr.    Berwick: 

I  rise  to  a  point  of  order. 

By  Vice-President  Pryor,  in  the  Chair: 
This  is  entirely  on  the  question. 

By    Mr.    Berwick: 

Have  I  not  the  closing  address  upon  the  subject? 

By  Mr.  Henderson: 
(Continuing.) 

centralization  of  capital.  "VVe  are  having  it  today,  and  this  parcels  post  will 
only  aid  in  the  centralization  of  merchandise  and  capital.  There  is  no  ques- 
tion about  it,  and  I  cite  you  to  England  as  an  example.  There  you  have  an 
argument  to  support  the  position  I  take,  for  you  cannot  go  into  a  town  of 
six  thousand  people  in  the  country  of  England  today  and  buy  a  decent  suit 
of  clothes  or  a  wearable  pair  of  shoes,  or  a  hat  that  would  be  presentable, 
but  you  must  send  up  to  the  great  centers,  like  London  or  Liverpool,  where 
they  operate  what  is  known  as  co-operative  stores,  but  they  are  co-operative 
in  name  only,  where  the  people  work   for  a  pittance  in  order  to  get  them." 

That    is    all,    gentlemen.      It    expresses    it    very    forcibly — I    can    add 


nothing  whatever  to  it. 

By  Governor  Rickards,  of  Montana: 

I  rise  to  a  point  of  order,  Mr.  Chairman. 

By  Vice-President  Pryor: 
"What  is  the  point  ? 

By  Mr.  Rickards: 

That,  under  the  rules,  the  mover  of  the  resolution  has  a  closing  speech 
of  five  minutes  allowed  him,  after  which  the  Chairman  of  the  Committee 
on  Resolutions  has  five  minutes  allowed  him.  Now,  we  have  had  the  matter 
up  again  for  discussion  after  both  of  these  addresses  have  been  made. 
My  point  of  order  is  that  we  have  exhausted  the  matter,  and  that  my  dear 
friend,  Mr.  Briggs,  was  out  of  order. 


240  REPORT    OF    PROCEEDINGS 

By  Mr.  Henderson: 
I  aru  satisfied. 

By  Vice-President  Pryor: 

I  don't  believe  that  I  was  in  the  chair  when  that  order  was  made,  or  I 
would  probably  have  stated  the  question  fairly  and  asked  if  there  was  any 
more  discussion  before  I  let  the  mover  of  the  resolution  go  on.  If  that  was 
the  ruling,  I  will  sustain  the  point  of  order.  I  was  not  in  the  chair  when 
that  was  done. 

By   Mr.   Berwick: 

The  order  was  made,  sir. 

(Cries  of  "Vote,  vote,  vote.") 

By   Secretary   Francis: 

Alaska. 

By  Mr.  Marum,  of  Oklahoma: 

If  I  vote  "No",  which  way  do  I  vote?  The  substitute  is  what  we  are 
voting  on,  and  I  want  to  inquire  whether  a  vote  is  for  or  against  the 
parcels   post. 

By  Vice-President  Pryor: 

I  will  explain.  I  hold  in  my  left  hand  the  original  resolution.  I  hold 
in  my  right  hand  the  substitute.  The  vote  you  take  now  is  whether  or  not 
we  will  substitute  the  right  hand  for  the  left  hand.  If  you  vote  "Aye"  and 
carry  this  vote,  this  becomes  the  sense  of  the  convention.  Do  you  want  this 
read?    This  is  the  substitute  for  the  original  resolution. 

By   Mr.  Briggs: 

Is  it  the  report? 

By  Vice-President  Pryor: 

We  are  working  on  the  substitute  altogether.  There  was  a  motion  made 
to  substitute  for  the  original  this  document. 

By  Mr.  Briggs: 

Mr.  Chairman,  I  would  like  to  know  if  we  can  not  now  have  a  recess 
long  enough  so  that  the  delegations  can  determine  how  they  want  to  vote. 
California  has  thirty  votes,  and  I  am  thoroughly  unable,  in  this  room,  to 
cast  the  vote  one  way  or  the  other.  Therefore,  I  move  now  that  we  take  a 
recess  ^f  ten  minutes,  in  order  that  the  delegations  may  determine  how 
to  cast  their  votes. 

By  Mr.  Frank  H.  Gould,  of  San  Francisco: 

Before  the  motion  is  put,  I  would  like  to  ask  a  point  of  information. 
I  would  like  if  the  Chair  would  inform  us  if  the  left  hand  knoweth  what 
the  right  hand  doeth? 

By  Vice-President  Pryor: 

Would  you  like  to  have  this  read? 

By  Mr.  Briggs: 

If  I  may  be  permitted  to  renew  my  motion  after  the  reading,  I  will 
withdraw  the  motion  for  the  present. 


TRANS-MISSISSIPPI    COMMERCIAL    CONGRESS  241 

By  Vice-President  Pryor: 

I  will  read  the  substitute  for  the  original,  or  direct  the  Secretary  to 
read  it. 

By  Secretary  Francis: 

This  is  offered  by  Edward  Berwick,  President  of  the  Postal  Progress 
League  of  California,  and  reads  as  follows: 

WHEREAS,  All  improvements  in  methods  and  lessening  of  the  cost  of 
production  and  transportation  tend  to  enlarge  the  boundaries  and  increase  the 
volume  of  commerce;  and 

WHEREAS,  Postmaster-General  Meyer  has  proposed  to  reduce  the  rate  per 
pound  on  parcels  post  sent  through  the  domestic  mails  from  sixteen  to  twelve 
cents  a  pound,  to  increase  the  maximum  weight  from  four  to  eleven  pounds, 
and  also  to  permit  packages  to  be  carried  on  all  rural  free  delivery  routes 
from  their  initial  point  to  any  other  point  on  the  same  route  at  the  rate  of 
five  cents  for  the  first  pound  and  two  cents  additional  for  every  pound  added 
up  to  eleven  pounds;  be  it 

RESOLVED,  That  this  Congress  heartily  endorse  the  Postmaster-General's 
recommendation,  and  urges  on  the  United  States  Congress  to  take  the  neces- 
sary steps  to  make  these  recommendations  effective. 

By  Mr.  Briggs: 

I  move  that  the  resolution  be  laid  on  the  table. 

By  Chairman    Harris: 

I  make  the  point  of  order  against  that,  that  the  gentleman  was  only  to 
be  recognized  for  the  purpose  of  moving  a  recess. 

By  Vice-President  Pryor: 
I  take  that  view  of  it. 

By  Mr.  Briggs: 

I  am  not  going  to  put  myself  against  my  friend  Harris  on  the  question 
of  the  point  of  order.    It  is  an  interesting  point  of  order. 

By  Chairman   Harris: 

I  not  only  state  it,  but  it  has  been  sustained.  Do  you  move  a  recess 
for  five  minutes? 

By  Mr.  Briggs: 
Yes. 

By  Chairman   Harris: 
I  second  the  motion. 

By  Mr.  Briggs: 

The  motion  is  that  we  now  take  a  recess  of  ten  minutes. 

(The  motion  unanimously  prevailed,  and  a  recess  for  ten  minutes  was 
declared,  at  the  end  of  which  the  Chairman  called  the  convention  again 
to  order.) 

By  Mr.  Wright,  of  California: 

Mr.  Chairman,  is  a  motion  in  order  at  this  time? 

By  Vice-President  Pryor: 
I  do  not  think  it  is. 

By  Mr.  Wright: 

What  is  before  the  house? 


242  REPORT    OF    PROCEEDINGS 

By  Vice-President  Pryor: 
The  roll  call. 

By  Mr.  Wright: 

No  portion  of  the  roll  is  called  as  yet. 

By  Vice-President  Pryor: 
The  debate  is  closed. 

By   Mr.  Briggs: 

Is  the  recess  over? 

By  Vice-President  Pryor: 
Yes,  sir. 

By   Mr.   Frank   H.   Gould: 

A  point  of  information  before  the  vote  is  taken. 

By  Vice-President  Pryor: 

I  will  make  a  few  remarks  upon  the  matter  for  the  information  of  the 
house.  In  the  first  place,  I  want  to  ask  as  a  special  favor  of  each  and  every 
one  here,  after  this  vote  is  taken  and  the  result  is  announced,  and  this 
measure  has  passed  the  vote,  to  please  remain  and  not  leave  us,  because 
there  are  some  other  resolutions  that  we  want  to  have  acted  upon,  and  we 
have  stayed  with  you,  and  now  we  want  you  to  stay  with  us.  What  is  your 
point,  sir? 

By  Mr.  Gould: 

It  is  in  relation  to  the  question  now  before  this  assemblage.  My  under- 
standing of  the  question  now  is  that  the  motion  is  upon  the  adoption  of  the 
substitute. 

By  Vice-President  Pryor: 

That  is  right. 

By  Mr.  Gould: 

The  adoption  of  the  substitute  means  that  this  assemblage  favors  the 
parcels  post  as  the  same  has  been  recommended  by  the  Postmaster-General. 

By   Vice-President    Pryor: 

No.    The  adoption  of  the  substitute  is  not  final,  the  way  I  take  it. 

By  Mr.  Gould: 

I  see,  a  vote  "Aye"  on  the  present  matter  indicates  that  the  party  favors 
the  parcels  post,  and  the  man  who  votes  "No"  votes  against  the  parcels  post. 

By   Vice-President    Pryor: 

Yes.     Yet  a  man  could  vote — 

By   Mr.  Wright,  of  California: 

I  yield  to  the  floor,  Mr.  Chairman,  and  I  desire  now  to  make  a  motion,  and 
that  is  that  the  substitute  and  the  entire  matter  be  referred  to  a  special 
committee  to  investigate,  the  committee  to  be  appointed  by  the  Chair  and 
report  at  the  next  session  of  this  Congress. 

By  Chairman  Harris: 

1  make  the  point  that  that  is  out  of  order. 


TRANS-MISSISSIPPI    COMMERCIAL    CONGRESS  243 

By   Vice-President    Pryor: 

I  think  you  are  out  of  order,  and  I  so  rule. 

By   Mr.  Wright: 

I  appeal  from  the  decision  of  the  Chair.  The  motion  is  not  out  of 
order,  because  the  roll  call  has  not  commenced. 

By  Chairman  Harris: 

The  roll  call  has  commenced.  Possibly  the  gentleman  from  California 
ha*  forgotten  that  the  roll  call  was  ordered,  and  that  at  the  request  of  one 
of  your  delegation  a  recess  was  taken  in  order  to  allow  you  to  poll  your 
votes.  I  now  make  the  point  of  order  that  we  have  proceeded  too  far  to 
permit  the  Chair  to  entertain  a  motion  before  the  roll  call. 

By  Mr.  Wright: 

My  memory  is  not  the  same  as  yours. 

By  Chairman  Harris: 

I  ask  what  the  Secretary's  memory  is  on  the  question. 

By  Secretary  Francis: 

A  roll  call  was  asked  for,  and  the  Secretary  had  proceeded  with  the  roll 
call,  as  far  as  Alaska. 

By  Mr.  Briggs: 

Mr.  Chairman,  for  information,  I  have  been  asked,  and  I  would  like  to 
have  the  Chair  explain  how  it  would  be  if  there  is  but  one  delegate  from 
any  state  or  territory  on  this  question.  Will  he  be  entitled  to  ten  votes? 

By   Vice-President    Pryor: 
Yes. 

By  Mr.  Briggs: 

Suppose  there  are  nine  delegates  from  any  state,  and  there  is  only  one 
represented  here,  and  they  have  caucused,  and  that  one  declares  himself 
for  or  against.     Would  he  be  entitled  to  ten  votes? 

By  Secretary  Francis: 

He  has  ten  votes,  under  the  rule. 

By  Mr.   Briggs: 

You  can  see  what  I  am  getting  at.  It  is  the  injustice  of  permitting 
one  delegate,  because  he  happens  to  be  here,  to  cast  the  full  ten  votes  for 
his  delegation,  where  perhaps  eight  of  them  are  against  it. 

By  Chairman  Harris: 

I  understood  the  gentleman  from  California  rose  to  a  point  of  informa- 
tion. 

By  Mr.   Briggs: 

I  have  asked  it. 

By  Chairman  Harris: 

I  object  to  his  making  an  argument.  I  do  not  mean  that  to  apply  to  my 
friend  Briggs,  but  I  just  want  to  stop  any  other  matters,  so  that  we  may 
proceed  with  the  roll  call. 


244  REPORT    OF    PROCEEDINGS 

By   Vice-President    Pryor: 

Proceed  with  the  roll  call,  Mr.   Secretary. 

By  Secretary  Francis: 

Alaska:     For  the  substitute,  10. 
Arizona:     Against   the   substitute,   10. 

By  Chairman  Harris: 

A  question  of  information.  I  want  to  know  if  a  member  of  the  United 
Commercial  Travelers,  or  the  Travelers'  Protective  Association,  or  a  mem- 
ber of  any  other  body  here,  having  accredited  delegates,  is  to  be  permitted 
to  vote  more  than  once?  May  he  vote  in  his  capacity  as  a  delegate  from 
the  state  of  California,  for  instance,  and  then  when  the  roll  is  called  of  the 
Commercial  Travelers,  may  he  vote  again?  If  he  may,  then  I  want  to  vote 
first  as  a  Democrat,  next  as  an  Episcopalian,  next  as  a  Texan,  and  next 
as  a  married  man,  and  so  on,  down  the  line.  I  challenge  any  such  votes 
as  that.    No  man  has  a  right  to  vote  twice. 

By  Secretary  Francis: 

California:     For,    13;    against,    17. 

By  Chairman  Harris: 

I  ask  to  be  advised  before  that  vote  is  registered,  whether  in  that  vote 
of  13  or  17  there  be  any  members  of  the  various  accredited  commercial 
bodies  voting. 

By  Mr.  Judell: 

The  representatives  of  the  Commercial  Travelers'  Association  came 
forward  like  men  and  said,  "We  don't  want  to  vote  twice.  We  will  go 
and  vote  where  we  belong." 

By  Chairman  Harris: 

That  is  just  exactly  what  I  expected  of  them.  It  is  precisely  the  an- 
nouncement that  I  expected  to  have  made.  I  expected  nothing  else,  but  I 
did  want  that. 

By  Mr.  Orrin  S.  Henderson: 

I  am  the  gentleman  to  whom  they  refer. 

By  Chairman  Harris: 

I  do  not  refer  to  anybody. 

By  Mr.  Orrin  S.  Henderson: 

There  are  over  two  hundred  members  from  California  in  this  conven- 
tion,  and  there  are  over  forty  of  them  here,  and  there  are  over  thirty 
voting,  so  do  not  count  me. 

By  Secretary  Francis: 

Colorado,  5  for  and  5  against. 
Hawaii,  10  against. 
Iowa,  10  for. 
Kansas,  10  against. 
Louisiana,  10  against. 
Montana,  10  against. 
Missouri,  10  against. 


TRANS-MISSISSIPPI    COMMERCIAL    CONGRESS  245 

By   Mr.  W.  J.   Evans,  of  Ogallala,   Nebraska: 

At  present  I  am  here  alone,  and  I  do  not  like  to  cast  the  vote  of  my  State 
for  fear  that  I  may  be  criticized  for  it. 

By  Secretary  Francis: 

Mr.  Chairman,  Nebraska  asks  to  be  passed. 

By   Vice-President    Pryor: 

We  will  pass  Nebraska  if  there  are  no  objections. 

By  Mr.   Briggs: 

Do  I  understand  that  Nebraska  desires  to  be  released  from  voting? 

By   Vice-President    Pryor: 

Yes. 

By  Mr.   Briggs: 

I  don't  know  but  that  will  take  a  motion. 

By   Vice-President    Pryor: 

He  has  a  right  not  to  vote. 

By  Mr.   Briggs: 

I  move  that  Nebraska,  at  the  request  of  her  delegate,  be  relieved  from 
voting. 

By  Chairman  Harris: 

I  understand  that  Nebraska  has  not  asked  to  be  relieved  from  voting, 
but  to  be  passed. 

(The  motion  was  duly  seconded  and  put  by  the  Chair  and  unanimously 
passed.) 

By  Secretary  Francis: 
Nevada,  10  against. 
Oklahoma,    10    against. 
Oregon,  5  for  and  5  against. 
Philippines,  10  against. 
Texas,  10  for. 

Washington,  7  for,  3  against. 
Travelers'    Protective   Association,    10    against. 
United  Commercial  Travelers,  10  against. 

By  Chairman  Harris: 

Before  the  vote  is  announced,  Mr.  Chairman,  I  would  like  to  ask  if  the 
members  of  those  two  commercial  bodies  do  not  feel  that  they  ought  not  to 
vote  here  at  all,  since  they  have  their  interests  at  stake? 

By   Mr.  H.   R.  Basford: 

I  object  to  any  man  rising  and  making  this  a  class  issue.  The  com- 
mercial issue — 

By  Chairman  Harris: 

My  dear  friend,  that  was  merely  a  jocular  statement. 

By  Mr.  Basford: 

All  right.     Make  it  so,  sir. 


246  REPORT    OF    PROCEEDINGS 

By   Mr.   Briggs: 

I  was  in  hopes  our  friend  Harris  would  move  to  make  this  vote  unani- 
mous, but  he  does  not  seem  to  have  reached  that  point  yet. 

By  Secretary  Francis: 

The  vote  upon  the  substitute  stands  60  votes  for,  and  140  votes  against. 

The  vote  by  states  results  as  follows: 

Aye.  Xay. 

Alaska    10 

.\  rizona    10 

California      13  17 

Colorado    5  5 

Hawaii   10 

Iowa    10 

Kansas     10 

Louisiana    10 

Montana     10 

Missouri     10 

Nebraska   (relieved  from  voting)    

Nevada      10 

Oklahoma     10 

Oregon      5  5 

I '  1  i  i  1  ipp i n es     10 

Texas   10 

Washington    7  3 

Travelers'    Protective    Association    10 

United  Commercial  Travelers    1  o 

60  140 

By  Vice-President    Pryor: 

The  substitute  is  lost. 

By   Mr.   D.   P.   Marum,  of   Oklahoma: 

Mr.  Chairman,  I  move  the  adoption  of  the  committee's  report  adversely 
to  the  proposition. 

The  motion  was  duly  seconded,  and  on  being  put  to  viva  voce  vote,  was 
adopted. 

By  Vice-President  Pryor: 

I  desire  to  introduce  to  you  the  gentleman  who  brought  this  Congress  to 
California.  I  want  him  to  find  out  whether  or  not  he  has  made  good  his 
promises  made  at  Muskogee  a  year  ago.  I  introduce  to  you  Col.  H.  D.  Love- 
land,  of  California,  our  former  President. 

Colonel  Loveland: 

Mr.  Chairman  and  Fellow  Delegates:  1  w;uit  to  speak  to  the  few  delegates 
who  are  left  from  our  sister  states.  One  year  ago  at  Muskogee,  Oklahoma, 
where  Mr.  Briggs  and  myself  went  as  delegates  from  California  —  I  beg  your 
pardon,  madam,  but  do  you   desire  to  be  heard? 

By   Mrs.   Mary   Lynde  Craig: 

I  want  to  introduce  this  resolution  before  Mr.  John  Henry  Smith  goes. 

By  Mr.  Loveland: 

I  gracefully  yield  to  the  lady  of  California. 

By   Mrs.  Craig: 

Mr.  President,  I  have  a  resolution  that  I  would  like  to  have  the  Secretary 
read. 

By  Secretary   Francis: 
(Reading:) 


TRANS-MISSISSIPPI    COMMERCIAL    COxNGRESS  247 

WO  MA  \     S  l  IK  R  v  <;  B. 

Believing  that  the   natural   resources  of  the  country   should   be   conserved 
therefore  be"  i?         valuable   natural   resources   are    the   men    and    women    in    i,. 

RESOLVED,  That  as  the  natural  conservators,  both  of  the  race  and  of 
our  material  resources,  women  should  be  protected  equally  with  men  in  II,,, 
property  and  labor  rights,  and  that  they  are  justly  entitled  to  a  the  rights 
and  privileges  of  American  citizens. 

By   Mr.   Donald,  of  Arizona: 

I  move  the  adoption  of  the  resolution,  Mr.  Chairman. 
The  motion  was  duly  seconded. 

By  Chairman  Harris: 

I  suggest,  Mr.  Chairman,  that  we  hear  from  the  author  of  the  resolution. 

By  Vice-President  Pryor: 
Mrs.  Craig  has  the  floor. 

By  Mrs.  Mary  Lynde  Craigr,  of  California: 

Ladies  and  Gentlemen:  I  had  the  honor  to  be  a  member  of  this  Congress 
in  1894.  We  introduced  a  resolution  similar  to  this  at  that  Congress  and  it 
was  introduced  by  Judge  Lowell,  of  Oregon.  After  that  I  was  invited  to 
address  the  Congress,  and  an  hour  was  set  apart  for  my  address  from  half 
past  7  to  half  past  8  in  the  evening.  I  made  the  address  to  a 'full  house, 
received  good  attention,  and  afterwards  a  vote  was  taken  upon  whether 
my  address  should  be  received  and  printed  with  the  report  of  the  Congress 
and  be  sent  on  with  the  report  to  Washington,  and,  after  quite  a  long  dis- 
cussion of  the  matter,  perhaps  an  hour,  it  was  received  and  printed  and  sent 
on  to  Washington.  At  that  time,  as  at  .this  time,  our  resolution  in  the 
Committee  on  Resolutions  was  voted  down.  Then  we  brought  it  out  on  the 
floor  of  the  house.  We  had  some  excellent  friends  there,  and  it  was  passed. 
Now  we  are  trusting  to  the  fact  that  we  probably  have  a  good  many  friends 
here  who  will  come  to  our  rescue,  just  as  we  did  before.  My  friend,  Honorable 
John  Henry  Smith,  of  Utah,  and  quite  a  number  of  distinguished  men.  have 
offered  to  speak  in  favor  of  the  resolution.  I  hope  you  will  pass  the  resolu- 
tion as  adopted.     I  thank   you,  gentlemen.      (Applause.) 

By   Mr.   D.   P.   Marum,  of  Oklahoma: 

In  Oklahoma,  we  are  willing  at  any  time,  whenever  the  women  demand 
it,  to  give  them  the  right  of  suffrage,  and  Oklahoma  now  asks  this  Congress 
to  pay  the  compliment  to  the  brave  little  women  who  have  come  here 
asking  for  their  rights.     We  always  stand  by  the  ladies  in  Oklahoma. 

By  Mr.  Greene  Majors,  of  Alameda,  Cal.: 

In  answer  to  this,  I  will  say,  Mr.  Chairman,  that  I  was  a  member  of  the 
Congress  of  1894,  in  which  that  gallant  fight  was  made  for  equal  suffrage. 
The  matter  was  carried  by  a  big  majority  after  the  question  was  properly 
threshed  out.  For  one,  I  believe  that  woman  has  a  right  to  the  ballot  as  a 
matter  of  right.  As  to  what  she  will  do  with  the  ballot,  it  is  nobody's  busi- 
ness. Suppose  we  men  were  asked  what  we  were  going  to  do  with  our  ballots 
when  we  go  up  to  register.  We  would  be  incensed  and  outraged.  The  great 
ruling  spirit,  gentlemen,  of  the  Americans  of  this  country  is  stated  in  the 
Declaration  of  Independence,  where  it  says  that  all  governments  derive  their 
just  powers  from  the  consent  of  the  governed.  I  ask  if  women  are  no1  gov- 
erned under  the  laws  of  this  country  the  same  as  the  men?  I  hope  that  this 
Congress  will  endorse  this  resolution  by  an  overwhelming  majority. 
Hon.  John  Henry  Smith,  of  Utah: 

Mr.  President,  and  Ladies  and  Gentlemen:  I  want  to  endorse  with  all  my 
heart  the  proposition  involved  in  the  resolution  introduced  by  Mrs.  Craig. 
I  have  lived  in  a  land  where  woman  suffrage  has  existed  for  many  years,  and 
to  the  credit  of  the  womanhood  of  my  State,  in  honor  of  the  mother  who  bore 
me  and  of  the  women  who  have  called  me  husband — lam  one  of  thai  kind  who 
has  been  called  husband  by  more  than  one — I  endorse  the  proposition  of 
bestowing  upon  the  ladies  of  the  American  people  the  full-grown  privileges 
of  manhood,  that  with  all  the  labors  she  has  today,  her  womanhood  shall  be 
manifest  in  the  exercise  of  those  rights  and  privileges  that  her  suns  and  her 
husbands    have,   and   that    she    with    us    exercises   so    wisely   and   so    well, 


248  REPORT    OF    PROCEEDINGS 

I  remember,  my  friends,  being  recently  in  a  Tittle  meeting-  where  a 
brother  got  up  and  bore  testimony  to  the  fact  that  he  had  his  family  under 
good  control,  that  he  guided  their  destinies  wisely  and  prudently,  and  that 
he  stood  (irmly  and  rightly  at  the  head  of  his  house.  His  wife  followed  him 
in  her  testimony  to  the  good  character  of  her  husband,  his  fidelity,  his  faith, 
his  kindly  labors,  but  while  she  recognized  his  headship,  she  would  have  that 
body  of  ladies  and  gentlemen  know  that  she  was  the  neck,  and  she  turned  that 
head  whichever  way  she  wanted  it  to  go.      (Laughter  and  applause.)  " 

My  friends,  I  ask  you  to  pass  this  resolution,  and  to  see  to  it  that  American 
womanhood  that  we  have  sought  in  counsel,  and  that  has  counseled  with  us, 
shall  be  honored  and  sustained  in  its  effort  to  secure  the  rights  of  women 
along  all  lines,  just  as  we  have  them  for  ourselves.  I  was  trained  by  a  mother 
whose  capabilities  of  statesmanship  should  have  entitled  her  to  the  esteem  and 
respect  of  the  people  where  she  lived;  and  yet  she,  during  many  years  of  her 
life  while  she  taught  me,  her  child,  to  become  a  true  man.  could  not  exercise 
the  rights  that  were  exercised  by  that  child  when  he  had  barely  become  of  age. 

"While  I  am  on  my  feet,  I  desire  to  say  that  I  think  it  is  proper  that  a 
resolution  should  be  passed  thanking  all  the  people  of  this  city  for  their 
care  of  us,  and  that  we  trust  that  the  peace  of  Heaven  and  the  blessings  of  our 
God  shall  be  upon  this  State,  and  upon  this  Nation  of  ours,  that  the  flag  that  we 
love  and  upon  which  we  gaze  with  pride  shall  ever  be  maintained,  and  that 
her  sons  and  daughters  shall  continue  to  grow  and  increase  in  power  and 
wisdom,  that  among  the  children  of  the  earth  shall  ever  be  the  manhood  of  the 
United  States  and  the  womanhood  of  this  glorious  land  that  we  love  so  well. 
(Applause.) 

Mr.  Hugh  Craig,  of  San  Franoisco: 

Mr.  Chairman,  for  several  days  we  have  heard  of  the  conservatism  of  the 
Trans-Mississippi  Commercial  Congress,  and  that  of  the  nineteenth  session,  at 
which  we  have  met  and  looked  into  each  other's  faces;  we  have  heard  that 
the  motto  of  the  Congress  should  be  to  conserve  for  the  generations  that  are 
to  come  what  has  not  already  been  alienated  of  public  property.  Now,  then,  if 
there  is  one  interest  more  sacred  than  another,  and  I  claim  it  is  the  most 
sacred  interest,  not  only  in  this  State,  but  in  this  continent  and  in  all  the 
world,  it  is  that  of  the  American  mother  and  her  child.  When  we  ask  you  to 
confer  upon  her  the  franchise  and  to  vote  in  favor  of  this  resolution,  we  can 
safely  leave  to  her  conservatism  the  issue,  and  believe  that  she  will  use  that 
ballot  and  that  vote  in  the  best  interests  of  those  who  are  to  follow  after  her 
and  after  us.     I  heartily  endorse  the  resolution.     (Applause.) 

Mr.  Arthur  R.  Brigs;*: 

Just  one  word,  Mr.  Chairman.  I  cannot  help  thinking  of  what  would  be  the 
sentiment  of  Susan  B.  Anthony  and  all  the  other  women  who  followed  her. 
clear  down  to  Kate  Field,  all  of  whom  have  passed  away  except  Julia  Ward 
Howe,  if 'they  could  see  the  sentiment  applauded  in  this  Congress  to  give  to 
women  the  suffrage  in  this  Nation.  The  memory  of  such  women  as  those  I 
have  mentioned,  the  work  they  did  year  after  year  and  for  quarter  century 
after  quarter  century,  until  it  had  reached  nearly  three-quarters  of  a  century, 
makes  us  feel  proud  of  the  women  of  this  country.  I  sincerely  hope  that  the 
resolution  will  pass. 
Mr.  J.  J.  <;osi»cr: 

Gentlemen  of  the  Convention:  I  have  not  appeared  before  you  until  this 
moment  in  a  formal  manner.  I  said  to  this  good  lady  sitting  here  in  front  of 
me  that  I  would  not  only  second,  but  take  a  moment  Id  speak  upon  that  resolu- 
tion. I  am  performing  my  pledge,  and  pleasantly.  You  see  that  log-house 
pictured  upon  the  curtain  up  there,  gentlemen?  That  painting  is  as  nearly  a 
genuine  imitation  of  the  real  thing  as  I  have  ever  seen.  One  of  the  grandest 
women  that  ever  .lived  upon  this  earth  gave  birth  to  her  boy,  your  speaker*  in 
a  log  house.  She  taught  me  the  fear  of  God  and  to  love  my  country  and  that 
flag,  and  when  the  time  came  for  men  to  go  to  war,  that  mother  who  taught 
me  to  love  the  tlag,  when  I  talked  with  her  about  going  down  into  the  South 
as  a  soldier,  said,  "My  boy,  I  can  say  nothing.  1  have'  taught  you  sentiments  of 
patriotism,  loyal  sentiments  to  your  flag  and  country."  And  she  said  to  me, 
"John,  go — but  may  God  bring  you  back  to  your  mother."  Now;  I  say  to  you, 
that  a  woman  that  had  intelligence  enough,  loyalty  enough,  to  teach  her  boy 
to  love  his  country  and  his  God  and  his  flag,  was  certainly  as  well  qualified  to 
vote  when  her  boy  reached  his  twenty-first  birthday  as  he  was.      (Applause.) 

You  have  mothers,  or  have  had,  most  of  you  that  are  here,  with  the  same 
sentiments.  And  I  want  to  say  to  you  something  that  will  be  original,  but  I 
mean  what  I  say.  If  I  had  the  power  to  enact  a  law,  not  to  be  President 
Roosevelt,  or  anybody  else,  I  would  accord  the  privilege  and  the  duty  of  vot- 
ing to  every  woman  that  would  bring  a  baby  boy  Into  existence,  who  would 
become  a   member  of  this  Government — let  her   vote   at  the   next   election    fol- 


TRANS-MISSISSIPPI    COMMERCIAL    CONGRESS  249 

lowing-  the  birth  of  her  baby  boy,  and  for  all  time  after  that.  What  do  you 
think  of  that?     That  would  increase  the  population  of  our  country. 

Now,  I  want  to  say  another  thing1.  There  is  the  sin  of  commission  on  the 
part  of  you  men,  myself  included,  as  voters.  Then  there  is  the  sin  of  omis- 
sion on  the  part  of  ourselves  as  voters.  A  man  that  votes  twice  is  guilty 
of  a  political  and  an  official  sin.  He  that  does  not  vote  at  all  is  as  guilty  as 
the  fellow  that  votes  twice.  I  would  be  in  favor,  if  no  other  motive  could  be 
offered,  to  give  to  the  women  of  the  locality  or  the  state,  in  numbers  at  least 
sufficient  to  take  the  place  of  the  men  that  I  would  disfranchise  for  voting 
twice  and  the  men  that  I  would  disfranchise,  if  I  could,  for  not  voting  at  all, 
just  as  quickly. 

I  want  to  say  that  I  am  most  emphatically  in  favor  of  female  suffrage— 
not  for  the  blessed  women  themselves,  gentlemen,  but  in  the  interests  of  my 
country.  And  if  I  had  the  power  to  compel  the  woman  and  the  man  that  do 
not  vote  at  all  to  go  to  the  ballot  box,  I  would  do  so,  as  it  is  the  duty  of 
every  American  citizen  to  do — I  would  compel  them  to  go  there  and  vote,  so 
help  me  God.     (Applause.) 

The  question  was  then  called  for,  and,  on  being  put  to  a  viva  voce  vote, 
the  resolution  unanimously  passed. 

By  Mr.  Herbert  Strain: 

I  desire  to  offer  the  following  resolution,  Mr.  Chairman: 

VOTE  OF  THANKS. 

RESOLVED,  That  the  members  of  the  Trans-Mississippi  Commercial  Con- 
gress do  hereby  extend  to  the  people  of  California  in  general,  and  of  San 
Francisco  in  particular,  their  sincere  thanks  for  the  generous  and  hearty  wel- 
come accorded  to  them  during  this  session.  We  express  particular  apprecia- 
tion of  the  work  of  the  San  Francisco  reception  committee,  the  newspapers 
of  San  Francisco,  the  Associated  Press,  the  United  Press,  and  other  press 
associations,  all  of  which  have  helped  to  make  this  nineteenth  session  suc- 
cessful and  profitable  for  all  interested.  We  express  our  appreciation  of  the 
services  of  the  retiring  President,  Honorable  J.  B.  Case,  and  of  Secretary 
Arthur  F.  Francis,  whose  labors  and  energy  have  made  this  meeting  one 
of  which  every  member  is  proud;  also  to  other  officers  who  have  given 
generous  and  abundant  assistance  in  accomplishing  good  things  for  the  Trans- 
Mississippi  country. 

The  motion  was  duly  seconded  and  unanimously  passed  by  viva  voce  vote. 

By  Mr.  Briggs: 

I  desire  to  announce  that  the  reception  at  the  Fairmont  Hotel  will  begin 
at  8:30  o'clock  this  evening,  and  continue  until  11  o'clock.  It  is  an  informal 
reception,  and  we  desire  to  see  every  delegate  and  the  friends  they  have 
with  them,  and  the  people  of  San  Francisco  generally  at  that  reception.  I 
hope  you  will  not  forget  it,  and  that  you  will  be  sure  to  be  there. 

By  Vice-President  Pryor: 

We  will  now  hear  from  Colonel  Loveland,  an  ex-president  of  this 
Association,  and  the  gentleman  who  brought  this  Congress  to  San  Francisco. 

REMARKS  OP  COL..  H.  D.  LOVELAND. 

Col.   H.   D.    Loveland: 

Gentlemen,  I  am  going  on  a  fishing  excursion,  or  I  intended  to,  but  my 
friend  here  fouled  mv  line,  and  I  have  lost  my  bait.  I  wanted  to  say  to  the 
delegates  from  our  sister  states,  that  one  year  ago  at  Muskogee,  when  I 
asked  you  to  come  to  California,  I  made  certain  promises  to  the  delegates 
from  other  states.  All  Californians  know  what  those  promises  must  have 
been  in  the  way  of  what  a  hospitable  welcome  we  would  give  them.  I  want 
to  ask  you  if  we  have  made  good  ? 

Delegate: 

Sure.    You  have. 
Continuing: 

Col.  Loveland,  continuing-: 

I    spoke    to    you   at    that    time    of    a    city    that    had    been    destroyed   by    the 


250  REPORT    OF    PROCEEDINGS 

elements,  and  I  t<>hl  you  what  we  were  doing-  to  rehabilitate  it,  and  I  told 
you  that  Californians,  like  all  good  Christians,  understood  the  meaning  of 
B.  C,  and  that  after  our  great  earthquake  and  fire,  we  understood  the  mean- 
ing of  A.  ('..  which  meant  after  the  catastrophe;  and  I  told  you  then  that 
when  you  came  here  for  this  Congress,  we  would  show  you  the  meaning 
of  R.  C.,  and  that  that  meant  Risen  City.     Have  we  made  good  ? 

Delegate: 

You  have. 

Col.  Loveland,  continuing: 

There  are  only  a  few  of  you  here  to  answer,  but  I  am  satisfied  that  if 
you   were  all    here  it  would  be  answered   in   the   same  way. 

Gentlemen,  we  have  tried  to  welcome  you  as  Californians.  And  I  want  to 
say  that  when  we  go  East,  it  is  my  experience  that  you  repay  us  in  kind. 
We  have  had,  while  you  have  been  here,  fortunately,  clear  skies  and  beauti- 
ful weather,  and  for  that  we  are  thankful.  And  let  me  say  to  you  that  not 
more  expansive  and  expressive  are  the  magnificent  valleys  of  California, 
not  purer  is  the  snow  that  crowns  her  eternal  mountains,  not  warmer  is 
the  gorgeous  sunset  which  you  may  have  seen  last  night  if  you  glanced  to 
the  westward,    than   is   California's   welcome   to  you.      I  thank   you. 

(Three  cheers  and  a  tiger  were  given  for  Colonel  Loveland  and  San 
Francisco.) 

By   Vice-President   Pryor: 

I  am  now  going  to  ask  your  President,  Mr.  Walsh,  to  take  the  chair  and 
close  the  meeting.  I  want  to  announce,  before  I  turn  the  chair  over  to  him, 
that  the  Executive  Committee  meets  at  5:30  o'clock  in  the  St.  Francis 
Hotel.  Will  they  please  be  on  hand  at  that  hour?  Mr.  Walsh  will  close  the 
meeting — if  there  is  anything  else  in  the  way  of  business  to  come  up,  will 
you  present  it  to  him? 

(President   Walsh    here   took   the   chair.) 

By    President    Walsh: 

I  want  to  thank  Mr.  Pryor  for  steering  my  bark,  not  over  the 
boisterous  waters,  but  over  the  calm  waters.  I  am  very  glad  to  take  the 
chair  and  to  close  the  meeting.  What  is  before  the  meeting  now,  Mr. 
Secretary? 

By  Capt.    Marston,   of  California: 

I  desire  to  introduce  this  resolution. 

By    Secretary    Francis: 

This  matter  was  sent  to  the  Committee  on  Resolutions  and  referred 
back  to  the  Congress.  It  was  understood  that  the  gentleman  presenting  it 
was  to  appear  before  the  Committee  on  Resolutions  this  morning,  and  the 
chairman  explained  that  for  some  reason  he  failed  to  appear,  and  he 
calls  it.  up  now  to  be  disposed  of.  It  is  a  resolution  relating  to  the  extension 
of  the  coastwise  navigation  laws  to  the  Philippine  archipelago. 

By  Capt.   Marston: 

That  is  the  whole  of  it. 

By   President   Walsh: 

Do  you  desire  to  have  the  resolution  read? 

By   Mr.   L.  E.  Pinkham,  of  Hawaii: 

Mr.   Chairman.    I    move  that  the  resolution  be  laid  on  the  table. 

By   Mr.   Max  L.   McCollough,  of  the  Philippines: 
I   second   the   motion. 


3. 
L 
5. 
«. 


LOCAL    EXECUTIVE    COMMITTEE. 

ARTHUR  R.  BRIGGS.  7.      FRANK  J.   SYMMES. 

PERCY   T.    MORGAN.  8.      ANDREW   M.   DAVIS. 

CHESTER    W.    BURKS.  9.      R.  B.  HALE. 

H.    D.    LOVELAND.  10 

ANDREA   SBARBORO.  11 

A.    C.   RULOFSON.  12 


RUFUS   r.  JENNINGS. 
FRANK  W.  MARSTON. 
JAMES    WOODS. 


TRANS-MISSISSIPPI    COMMERCIAL    CONGRESS  251 

By  Mr.  Frank  H.  Gould: 

Before  a  vote  is  taken,  it  seems  to  me  that  out  of  courtesy  to  the  gentle- 
man who  presents  this  resolution,  it  ought  to  be  read  in  this  assemblage. 

By  Mr.  Pinkham: 

As  Chairman  of  the  sub-committee,  we  gave  the  gentleman  every  oppor- 
tunity to  appear  before  us,  and  it  was  delayed  time  and  time  again,  and  the 
general  committee  did  the  same  thing,  and  it  seems  to  me  that  it  is  his 
own  negligence  that  the  matter  has  not  been  brought  up  and  attended  to. 
Now,  at  this  late  hour,  just  as  we  are  about  to  disperse,  and  with  a  matter  to 
which  the  committee  has  not  been  able  to  give  the  proper  attention,  it 
seems  to  me  that  it  is  improper  to  give  our  time  to  it. 

The  motion  to  lay  the  resolution  on  the  table  was  put  to  viva  voce  vote 
and  carried. 

By  Mr.  J.  J.  Gosper: 

We  are  about  to  adjourn,  I  presume,  Mr.  Chairman,  but  before  doing  so, 
I  want  to  offer  a  motion  on  behalf  of  the  delegates  of  this  convention,  com- 
plimentary to  the  President  and  to  those  who  have  by  ^courtesy  occupied  the 
Chair,  and  to  our  good  looking  and  ever-present  Secretary,  the  best  looking 
man  here,  save  one,  and  you  can  guess  who  he  is,  and  to  the  other  officers, 
the  chairmen  of  the  committees,  for  the  very  efficient  manner  in  which  they 
have  discharged  their  duties. 

By  Mr.  Strain,  of  Montana: 

That  was  included  in  my  resolution. 

By    President    Walsh: 

And  it  was  acted  upon. 

By    Mr.   Gosper: 

I  did  not  know  that  was  the  case.  I  withdraw  the  resolution.  Mr. 
Briggs,  a  very  modest  man  himself,  suggested  that  I  make  that  sort  of  a 
motion. 

By   President   Walsh: 

It  was  embodied  in  a  previous  resolution. 

By  Mr.  Hart,  of  Louisiana: 

Mr.  President,  I  move  that  we  do  now  adjourn. 

By  President  Walsh: 

Gentlemen:  Before  putting  that  motion,  I  would  like  to  say  a  very  few 
words.  You  have  come  here  many  miles  to  attend  this  Congress.  You  have 
left  your  homes  and  come  to  work  in  an-  unselfish  way  for  the  advancement 
of  your  country.  I  hope  and  trust  that  each  one  of  you  will  have  a  pleasant 
voyage  home,  that  you  will  find  your  families  who  await  you  happy  and 
well,  that  the  friendships  that  have  been  formed  in  this  Congress,  and  they 
are  not  the  least  of  the  good  effects  of  our  work,  will  live  during  your 
lives,  and  that  we  will  have  the  pleasure  of  seeing  you  all  in  Denver  next 
year.'  And  until  that  time,  and  for  many  years  to  come,  I  wish  that  every 
happiness  may  be  yours.      (Applause.) 

■ 

By   Secretary   Francis: 

May  I  announce  that,  in  reference  to  the  permanent  membership,  those 
who  wish  to  renew  for  the  ensuing  year  can  do  so  at  the  table  before  you 

go  away.  _  ,. 

The  motion  to  adjourn  was  then  put,  that  the  Congress  do  adjourn, 
subject  to  the  call  of  the  Executive  Committee,   and  unanimously  prevailed. 


252  REPORT    OF    PROCEEDINGS 

MEETING  OF  THE  EXECUTIVE  COMMITTEE 

San  Francisco,  California,  October  10,  190S. 

The  Executive  Committee  met  in  the  green  room  of  the  St.  Francis  Hotel. 
All  the  states  and  territories  west  of  the  Mississippi  River  were  represented, 
including'  representatives  from  Hawaii,  Alaska  and  the  Philippine  Archipelago. 
Organization  was  effected  by  a  motion  to  adopt  the  suggestion  made  by  the 
Committee  on  Permanent  Organization  and  accepted  by  the  Congress.  Officers 
were  thereupon  elected  as  follows: 

Chairman,  Col.  Ike  T.  Pryor,  San  Antonio,  Tex;  vice  chairman,  S.  F.  Dutton, 
Denver;  secretary,  Arthur  F.  Francis,  Cripple  Creek,  Colo.;  treasurer,  James  C. 
Dahlman,  Omaha.  Inasmuch  as  Denver  and  not  Omaha  had  secured  the  honor 
of  entertaining  the  session  of  the  Congress  for  1909,  at  the  suggestion  of  Sec- 
retary Francis  the  name  of  Fred  Moffat  of  Denver  was  substituted  for  that 
of  James  C.  Dahlman,  in  conformity  with  the  practice  which  retains  the  treas- 
urer in  the  city  where  the  Congress  is  held.  This  suggestion  was  accepted  and 
the  secretary  was  instructed  to  make  the  change  in  the  official  record. 

Congressional  Committee — F.  W.  Fleming,  Kansas  City,  Mo.;  J.  B.  Case, 
Abilene,  Kan.;  Col.  H.  D.  Loveland,  San  Francisco;  Hon.  E.  F.  Harris,  Galveston, 
Tex.;  J.  D.  Phelan,  San  Francisco;  L.  Bradford  Prince,  Santa  Fe,  New  Mexico; 
Alva  Adams,  Pueblo,  Colorado. 

Advisory  Committee — Arthur  R.  Briggs,  San  Francisco;  J.  H.  Brady,  Poca- 
tello,  Idaho;  W.  O.  Hart,  New  Orleans;  John  Henry  Smith,  Salt  Lake,  Utah;  J. 
W.  Creech,  Herington,  Kan. 

Special  Committee  of  Invitation — Thomas  F.  Walsh,  Denver;  Col.  Ike  T. 
Pryor,  San  Antonio,  Tex.;  Arthur  R.  Briggs,  San  Francisco;  Fred  W.  Fleming, 
Kansas  City,  Mo.;  Hon.  John  Barrett,  Portland,  Ore. 

The  last  named  committee  was  given  authority  to  add  to  its  number  as 
emergency  requires.  It  was  decided  to  inaugurate  the  preliminary  work  of  the 
Denver  session  as  soon  as  possible  and  to  this  end  the  state  executive  boards 
will  be  furnished  with  stationery  and  other  incidentals  at  once. 

Upon  motion  of  President  Walsh,  seconded  by  Col.  Pryor,  the  secretary 
was  instructed  to  notify  Vice-Chairman  Dutton  that  it  was  the  sense  of  the 
General  Committee  that  work  upon  the  Denver  session  should  not  be  deferred 
later  than  January  1  of  the  coming  year,  and  that  headquarters  be  at  once 
provided  the  secretary,  with  other  necessary  expenses. 

To  meet  the  postage  and  other  office  expenses  of  the  Executive  Committee, 
the  secretary  was  instructed  to  commence  a  vigorous  campaign  for  the  en- 
rollment of  more  permanent  members  of  the  Congress. 

The  president  and  secretary  were  instructed  to  revise  and  strengthen  the 
executive  boards  in  the  various  states  and  make  such  changes  as  they  may 
deem  necessary  in  order  to  secure  effective  co-operation  the  coming  year. 

The  committee  then  adjourned  to  be  called  together  in  Denver  in  Janu- 
ary. 

ISigned]  ARTHUR   F.    FRANCIS,    Secretary. 


RECOMMENDATIONS  TO  THE  NATIONAL 

CONGRESS. 

ADOPTED     BY    THE     NINETEENTH     ANNUAL    SESSION     OF     THE 

TRANS-MISSISSIPPI    COMMERCIAL    CONGRESS    HELD 

IN    SAN    FRANCISCO,    CALIFORNIA 

OCTOBER   6-10,    1908. 


The  Trans-Mississippi  Commercial  Congress  points  with  pride  to  what  it 
has  accomplished  since  its  organization,  and  particularly  to  the  fact  that 
many  of  its  recommendations  have  been  adopted  by  the  National  Congress 
demonstrating  its  great  and  growing  influence  for  the  betterment  and  sub- 
stantial progress  of  the  people  of  the  Trans-Mississippi  region  embracing 
twenty  states,  two  organized  territories  of  the  mainland,  Alaska,  Hawaii  and 
the  Philippine  Islands. 

In  accordance  with  its  custom,  this  Congress  presents  the  following  as 
important  subjects  to  which  it  invites  the  earnest  attention  of  the  President 
of  the  United  States  and  the  members  of  the  National  Congress. 

RIVERS,    HARBORS    AND    CAXALS. 

We  emphatically  reaffirm  the  clear  and  comprehensive  resolutions  passed 
at  former  sessions  of  this  Congress  in  regard  to  the  improvement  of  the 
waterways  and  harbors  of  our  entire  country.  Speaking  more  especially  for 
the  Trans-Mississippi  region,  which  is  far  more  than  half  of  the  United 
States,  we  recognize  that  within  the  last  year  our  transportation  necessities 
have  greatly  increased.  The  time  has  come  when  we  should  push  with  all 
possible  expedition  the  perfect  improvement,  ample  extension  and  efficient 
maintenance  of  these  natural  facilities,  by  which  alone  can  we  get  the  cheap- 
est transportation  and  adequate  outlets  for  our  products;  hence  we  again 
most  earnestly  commend  to  our  members  the  movement  more  especially  repre- 
sented by  the  National  Rivers  and  Harbors  Congress,  and  adopt  as  ours  its 
slogan — an  annual  appropriation  of  at  least  $50,000,000 — to  be  expended  in 
the   furtherance  of   the   pressing   and   indispensable   work. 

We  again  endorse  the  project  of  deep  water  from  the  Great  Lakes  to  the 
Gulf  oi  Mexico,  so  that  the  sea  shall  virtually  be  carried  to  Chicago,  that  our 
teeming  products  may  find  water  transportation  at  convenient  ports  all 
through  the  center  of  our  great  country  instead  of  being  subjected  to  long 
and   expensive   hauls   over   congested   railroads   to    the   coast. 

We  favor  the  perfect  and  permanent  improvement  to  the  highest  points 
of  navigation  of  such  channels  of  travel  as  the  Missouri  and  other  rivers, 
penetrating  to  the  heart  of  the  great  Trans-Mississippi  country. 

We  find  that  even  our  most  extensive  works  are  soon  inadequate,  both  in 
depth  and  space,  for  the  wants  of  commerce.  The  older  nations,  though  of 
smaller  area  and  with  productions  near  to  the  sea,  have  long  since  found  it 
indispensable  to  avail  themselves  of  the  most  perfect  capacity  of  all  classes  of 
transportation.  What  was  indispensable  for  them  is  now  even  more  vital  for 
us  with  our  great  territory  and  far  more  productive  population.  Hence  we 
urge   that   improvement  keep  pace  with  and  anticipate  our  commercial  wants. 

We  hail  with  satisfaction  the  progressive,  statesmanlike  and  patriotic 
utterances  and  actions  of  the  President  of  the  United  States  in  regard  to 
these  great  measures.  We  call  upon  our  Senators  and  Representatives  in 
Congress,  regardless  of  party,  to  support  him  in  this  policy,  which  we  wish 
advanced  to  the  very  first  rank  of  our  public  policies.  If  necessary  in  the 
construction  and  maintenance  of  the  great  system  of  works  of  which  our 
whole  country  now  stands  in  most  urgent  need,  we  favor  the  creation  of  a 
department  of  public  works,  and,  so  far  as  requisite  an  increase  of  the  public 
debt.  We  wish  no  waste,  nor  do  we  wish  to  antagonize  any  other  proper 
public  interest;  but  we  demand  prompt  and  efficient  attention  to  these  com- 
mercial  needs;  provided  the  projects  proposed  are  found  to  be  practicable  and 
of  public  use  by  the  United  States  engineers. 

CALIFORNIA    RIVERS    AXD    HARBORS. 

As  we   believe   in   equal   development   of   the   whole   country,    ami    knowing 
the    urgent    need    of    more    water    transportation,    we    favor    the    proposal    now 


254  REPORT    OF    PROCEEDINGS 

before    the   Government    authorities    for   the    construction    of    a   breakwater    to 
make   yet   more  available   the   splendid   natural   harbor   of  Monterey. 

This  Congress  recommends  to  and  urges  upon  the  Congress  of  the  United 
States  that  immediate  appropriation  be  made  in  the  following  amounts,  and 
for  the  following  purposes,  to  wit: 

(a)  That  an  appropriation  of  at  least  $259,250.00  be  made  for  the  purpose 
of  deepening  the  water  over  the  outer  bar  at  the  Harbor  of  San  Diego,  and 
for  removing  the  middle  ground  in  said  harbor,  in  accordance  with  the  report 
and  recommendations  of  the  Board  of  Engineers  for  Rivers  and  Harbors,  dated 
May  11,  1908,  in  order  to  accommodate  the  naval  vessels  desiring  coal  at  the 
Government  coaling  station,   now   being  constructed. 

(b)  That  an  appropriation  be  made  for  the  purpose  of  repairing  and  ex- 
tending the  twin  jetties  at  the  entrance  of  Humboldt  Bay,  in  order  that  the 
channel  of  the  bay  may  be  rendered  safe  to  commerce,  and  that  an  appropria- 
tion also  be  made  for  the  purpose  of  removing  the  hogbacks  formed  by  the 
deposit  of  sand   in   the   interior   bay. 

(c)  That  the  amount  of  $250,000  be  appropriated,  in  addition  to  the 
balance  unexpended  July  1st,  for  works  of  improvement  in  Oakland  Harbor, 
from  the  appropriation  authorized  by  Act  of  Congress,  March  3,  1905,  in  com- 
pliance with  recommendation  of  the  Board  of  Engineers  for  Rivers  and 
Harbors. 

(d)  That  the  sum  of  $400,000  be  appropriated  for  the  purpose  of  perform- 
ing the  work  specified  and  recommended  in  the  special  report  of  the  California 
Debris  Commission,  in  regard  to  the  further  appropriation  for  the  control  of 
mining  debris,  included  in  the  navigability  and  providing  for  the  control  of 
the  flood  waters  of  the  Sacramento  and  Feather  rivers,  California,  dated 
June   30th,    1907. 

(e)  That  an  appropriation  of  at  least  $284,800.00  be  made  for  the  purpose 
of  extending  the  breakwater  at  San  Pedro  Harbor  from  its  present  terminus 
to  the  shore  line,  in  accordance  with  the  report  and  recommendations  of  the 
Board  of  Engineers  for  Rivers  and  Harbors,  made  February  17th,   1908. 

PROVIDED,  That  before  entering  upon  any  work  on  the  Sacramento  and 
Feather  rivers,  the  state  of  California  have  appropriated  ^and  that  there  be 
available  from  the  funds  in  the  California  state  treasury)  an  equal  sum  of 
$400,000.00,  for  the  same  purpose. 

"We  urgently  recommend  to  the  Congress  of  the  United  States  that  im- 
mediate action  be  taken  for  improving  the  channel  of  the  Sacramento  River,  so 
that  its  navigability  to  Red  Bluff  may  be  maintained  during  all  seasons  of 
the  year. 

COOS    BAY. 

We  recommend  that  a  board  of  skilled  engineers  be  appointed  by  the 
United  States  Government  to  revise  the  projects  for  the  improvement  of  the 
Harbor  of  Coos  Bay,  with  a  view  of  fortifying  the  entrance  and  making  the 
harbor  a  coaling  station. 

BAYOU    LAFOURCHE. 

W|e  recommend  that  the  Congress  of  the  United  States  be  requested  to 
compel  the  opening  of  Bayou  Lafourche,  in  the  state  of  Louisiana,  by  the 
construction  of  locks  or  the  removal  of  the  dam. 

ARKANSAS    RIVER. 

We  earnestly  recommend  that  the  United  States  Government  appropriate 
sufficient  funds  for  the  improvement  of  the  Arkansas  River,  so  that  same  may 
be  navigable  from  its  mouth  as  far  as  Muskogee,  Oklahoma. 

INTER-COASTAL   CANAL. 

We  endorse  the  proposed  inter-coastal  canal  from  the  Mississippi  River 
to  the  Rio  Grande,  as  a  needed  and  most  beneficial  waterway  improvement, 
and  we  respectfully  urge  the  Senators  and  Representatives  of  the  Trans- 
Mississippi  States  in  Congress  to  favor  a  canal  of  not  less  than  nine  feet 
in  depth  and  not  less  than  one  hundred  feet  in  width. 

SIUSI.AVY    HARBOR. 

In  view  of  the  approaching  completion  of  the  Panama  Canal,  every  harbor 
of  the  Pacific  Coast,  which  by  a  reasonable  expenditure  can  be  made  prac- 
ticable for  ocean  commerce,  is  of  national  importance  and  the  Siuslaw  Harbor 
of  Lane  County,  Oregon,  appearing  for  such  worthy  and  the  natural  outlet 
to  the  sea  for  a  large  timber  and  agricultural  district,  it  is  recommended  that 
the  said  harbor  be  restored  to  the  position  formerly  occupied  in  the  harbor  and 
river  appropriations  and  that  the  improvements  there  commenced  be  carried 
to    completion. 


TRANS-MISSISSIPPI    COMMERCIAL    CONGRESS  255 

SUGAR. 

The  Domestic  Sugar  industry  merits  and  is  entitled  to  complete  and 
ample  protection,  and  that  this  Congress  is  opposed  to  anv  measure  that  tends 
to  increase  the  importation  of  free  sugar  grown  by  cheap  labor. 

NAVY  YARDS. 

The  Trans-Mississippi  Commercial  Congress  commends  the  Congress  of 
the  United  States  for  the  liberal  policy  it  has  heretofore  adopted  in  the  pro- 
tection and  development  of  the  National  interests  in  the  interior  territory 
and  coast  lines    of   the  Trans-Mississippi   States. 

Inasmuch  as  the  dock  facilities  of  the  Pacific  Coast  are  inadequate  to  care 
for  a  strong  defensive  fleet  of  battleships  and  cruisers,  it  is  of  paramount 
importance  that  two  Government  docks  be  maintained,  one  at  Bremerton, 
Washington,   and    one   at   Mare    Island,   California. 

We  recommend  that  a  commission  be  immediately  appointed  to  investigate 
and  report,  not  only  in  respect  to  needed  appropriations  for  the  Mare  Island 
Navy  Yard,  but  also  of  the  conditions  at  present  prevailing,  and  to  recommend 
a  plan  under  which  a  channel  of  sufficient  depth  to  permit  the  passage  of 
ships  of  the  deepest  draught  to  the  yard  can  be  maintained,  and  adequate 
facilities  be  provided  to  care  for  a  battleship  fleet  of  such  size  as  may  be 
required  upon  the  Pacific  Coast. 

GRAPE    INDUSTRIES. 

The  policy  of  our  Government  has  been  to  promote  agriculture  and  horti- 
culture. As  a  result,  in  the  Trans-Mississippi  States,  hundreds  of  thousands  of 
acres  of  land  and  hundreds  of  millions  of  capital  are  devoted  to  the  culti- 
vation of  the  grape,  and  many  thousands  of  families  depend  upon  that  indus- 
try for  a  living.  One  great  source  of  profit  to  the  grapegrower  has  been  the 
use  of  American  sweet  wines  as  medicinal  components.  The  ruling  of  the 
Internal  Revenue  Commissioner,  ratified  by  the  Secretary  of  the  Treasury, 
forbids  such  use  of  American  sweet  wines  to  the  great  loss  and  distress  of 
the  grapegrower.  Our  domestic  sweet  wines  are  outlawed  and  their  place  is 
taken  by  foreign  wines,  imported  under  reciprocity  at  a  rate  of  duty  per 
alcoholic  content  which  is  only  two-thirds  of  our  internal  revenue  tax  on 
domestic  spirits.  The  Trans-Mississippi  Commercial  Congress  respectfully 
requests  the  President  of  the  United  States  as  the  only  competent  legal  author- 
ity to  reverse  and  cancel  the  ruling  against  American  sweet  wines. 

This  Congress  also  requests  that  in  the  revision  of  the  tariff  there  be  no 
reduction  of  the  duties  on  the  products  of  the  vineyard,  either  directly  or  by 
reciprocity.  American  agriculture  demands  the  right  to  live  by  such  diversity 
of  products  as  our  varied  climate  permits,  and  this  Congress  asks  that  there 
be   no   discrimination   against   the   grape   and   its   products. 

ELECTRIC   POWER. 

This  Congress  recognizes  the  growing  importance  of  the  development  of 
electric  power,  not  only  for  the  purposes  of  lighting,  manufacturing  and  com- 
merce, but  also  in  aid  of  irrigation  by  pumping  from  subterranean  sources. 
Developments  already  accomplished  in  this  direction  warrant  the  assumption 
that,  in  the  not  far  distant  future,  the  lands  irrigated  by  water  pumped  from 
such  sources  will  equal,  if  they  do  not  exceed,  lands  irrigated  from  the 
natural  flow  of  streams.  The  development  and  use  of  our  streams  for  the 
generation  of  electric  power  not  only  aids  and  increases  irrigation  directly,  but 
is  beneficial  in  many  other  ways.  First,  it  renders  possible  and  profitable  the 
construction  of  reservoirs  in  the  high  mountains  withholding  excessive  floods, 
thus  aiding  reclamation  and  also  conserving  this  injurious  flow  which  is 
later  added  to  the  beneficial  flow  of  water  available  for  irrigation.  Second, 
it  is  the  one  great  source  of  supply  immediately  available  for  lighting,  heat 
and  power  as  a  substitute  for  other  fuels,  thus  limiting  the  rapid  destruction 
of  our  forests  and  also  conserving  and  saving  our  supplies  of  coal  and  other 
fuels.  Third,  the  use  of  electricity  for  pumping  renders  it  possible  perma- 
nently to  reclaim  and  irrigate  vast  sections  of  our  arid  land  otherwise  impos- 
sible of  reclamation  or  irrigation.  Fourth,  its  extensive  development  will 
cheapen  and  extend  manufacturing  and  commerce,  thus  affording  an  immediate 
home  market  for  the  products  of  our  irrigated  farms  and  also  cheaper  trans- 
portation   to    other   markets. 

RESOLVED,  That  the  necessary  right  of  way  and  rights  for  the  con- 
struction of  reservoirs,  and  of  uses  of  the  public  lands,  for  the  development 
of  electric  power,  should  be  aided  and  encouraged  in  every  reasonable  way. 
And  no  burdensome  charges  or  discriminations  should  be  exacted  or  imposed, 
as  a  result  of  which  such  beneficial  developments  may  be  delayed  and  the 
investment    of   capital    therein    prevented,  and    the   cost    increased    to    the    con- 


256  REPORT    OF    PROCEEDINGS 

sumer.      Such    uses   being   public   uses    should    be    controlled    and    regulated    by 
the  state  or  nation,  as  the  situation  and  use  may  require. 

CLOSER   RELATIONS    BETWEEN   THE   UNITED    STATES   AND   THE   LATIN- 
AMERICAN   REPUBLICS. 

We  strongly  endorse  the  work  and  propaganda  of  the  International  Bu- 
reau of  American  Republics  in  Washington,  an  official  institution  supported 
by  the  twenty-one  American  Republics,  including  the  United  States,  and  de- 
voted to  the  encouragement  of  Pan-American  commerce,  friendship  and  peace. 
We  congratulate  the  Honorable  Elihu  Root,  Secretary  of  State  of  the  United 
States,  on  the  policy  which  he  has  initiated  of  fostering  more  intimate  rela- 
tions with  our  sister  American  Republics,  as  outlined  in  his  speech  before  the 
Trans-Mississippi  Commercial  Congress  at  Kansas  City,  in  1906,  and  recom- 
mend not  only  organized  effort  among  the  business  interests  of  the  country 
for  the  legitimate  commercial  development  of  this  field,  but  legislation  by  the 
National  Congress  of  the  United  States  favorable  to  the  improvement  of 
steamship  and  mail  facilities  between  the  principal  ports  of  the  United  States 
and   these  Latin-American   Republics. 

GOVERNMENT  STEAMSHIPS  ALONG  THE  PACIFIC  COAST. 

Unless  assurances  can  be  given  of  an  improved  service  between  San  Fran- 
cisco, Central  American  ports  and  Panama,  we  recommend  and  urge  the  United 
States  Government  to  establish  its  own  lines  between  all  important  Pacific 
Coast  ports,  thereby  giving  us  a  thorough  Government-owned  line  via  Panama 
from  the  Atlantic  to  the  Pacific  seaboards. 

^TRANSPORTATION     OF    PERISHABLE    FREIGHT. 

We  recommend  to  the  Congress  of  the  United  States  the  enactment  of 
adequate  laws  defining  the  duties  of  railroad  companies  with  respect  to  fur- 
nishing with  reasonable  promptness  cars  for  the  transportation  of  freight, 
and  especially  perishable  freight  like  live  stock,  fruit  and  vegetables,  and  to 
require  prompt  transportation  of  all  perishable  freight,  fixing  penalties  for 
disobedience  of  such  law,  and  empowering  the  Interstate  Commerce  Commis- 
sion to  make  rules  and  regulations  concerning  the  same. 

TARIFF   RECIPROCITY. 

We  endorse  the  principles  of  reciprocity  to  the  end  that  tariff  schedules 
shall  be  made  so  adjustable  that  the  President  of  the  United  States  shall  be 
enabled  to  enter  into  reciprocal  trade  agreements  with  foreign  countries 
which  will  admit  to  the  widest  possible  market,  consistent  with  the  main- 
tenance of  the  industries  of  this  country,  the  products  of  our  country  and  its 
manufactures,  and  that  in  the  event  of  the  establishment  of  a  minimum  sched- 
ule of  duties,  the  same  be  made  upon  a  truly  reciprocal  basis,  so  as  to  give 
opportunity    to    negotiate    commercial    agreements. 

GRAZING  ON  PUBLIC  LANDS. 

We  recommend  to  the  Congress  of  the  United  States  the  enactment  of 
laws  which  shall  reasonably  provide  for  the  regulation  of  the  use  of  the 
public  grazing  upon  the  public  lands  of  the  United  States,  with  a  view  to  a  just 
and  reasonable  apportionment  among  the  users  of  the  public  lands  so  as  to 
stimulate  and  encourage  the  improvement  of  the  grazing  and  providing  water 
and  other  improvements,  subject  always  to  the  right  of  the  homesteading  and 
other  acquisitions  of  title  to  the  lands  under  the  land  laws  of  the  United 
States;  and  that  the  rental  charged  for  the  use  of  the  grazing  upon  such 
lands  be  made  as  low  as  the  administration  of  the  law  will  permit,  the  profits 
to  accrue  as  nearly  as  may  be  to  the  localities  where  the  land  is  situated  for 
the  public  school  purposes. 

PANAMA    CANAL. 

In  view  of  the  approaching  completion  of  the  Panama  Canal  every  har- 
hor  of  the  Pacific  Coast  and  of  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  which  by  reasonable  ex- 
penditure can  be  made  practicable  for  ocean  commerce,  should  be  considered 
of  National  importance,  and  adequate  appropriations  and  continuing  contracts 
by  the  Federal  Government  for  increasing  the  number  and  enlarging  the 
capacity  of  these  harbors,  are  recommended. 

PACIFIC    COAST    TBADE. 

RESOLVED,  That  the  interdependence  of  the  Pacific  Coast  States  necessi- 
tates united  action  in  efforts  to  secure  Federal  legislation  favoring  the  har- 
monious and  successful  expansion  of  Pacific  Coast  trade,  and  the  natural  de- 
velopment   of   coast   reserves. 

RESOLVED,  That  two  pressing  needs  of  the  Pacific  Coast  admittedly 
involving  the  commercial   welfare   of   the  whole   country,   are   the   maintenance 


^ 


TRANS-MISSISSIPPI    COMMERCIAL    CONGRESS  257 

of  a  large  fleet  of  naval  vessels  in  Pacific  waters,  and  Federal  legislation 
that  will  stimulate  American  shipping-  and  send  our  flag  into  every  foreign 
port. 

GEOLOGICAL    SURVEY. 

RESOLVED,  That  in  the  United  States  Geological  Survey  this  Nation 
has  a  bureau  that  has  and  is  gathering  absolutely  necessary  data  of  in- 
estimable value,  that  is  required  in  the  study  of  the  best  methods  to  be  em- 
ployed in  bringing  into  the  highest  degree  and  usefulness  the  unlimited 
natural    resources    of   the    United    States. 

Further,  the  water  resources  branch  of  the  United  States  Geological  Sur- 
vey is  requested  to  lend  its  aid  to  the  development  and  conservation  of  our 
desert  water  supplies,  giving  special  attention  to  their  accurate  location, 
maintenance  and  preservation,  and  to  the  preparation  of  maps  and  reports, 
and  the  dissemination  of  information  about  them;  and  the  members  of  our 
State  and  National  legislatures  are  urged  to  make  proper  provision  in  their 
annual   appropriation  bills  for  carrying  out  the  work  herein   outlined. 

NATIONAL   PARKS    AND   FOREST  RESERVES. 

"We  favor  the  enactment  of  Federal  and  State  laws  which  will  establish 
trails  in  National  Parks  and  Forest  Reserves,  not  only  as  a  means  of  trans- 
portation  and   communication,   but  as  a  preventive  against   forest   fires. 

We  favor  the  enactment  of  Federal  and  State  laws  which  will  compel 
persons  engaged  in  timber  or  lumber  operations  to  so  conduct  such  opera- 
tions that  the  rights  of  others  will  not  be  endangered;  and  we  recommend 
that  the  United  States  Forest  Service  shall  formulate  such  drafts  of  laws, 
and  the  same  shall  be  presented  at  the  next  session  of  Congress.  We  also 
suggest  to  the  state  foresters  of  the  different  states  that  similar  laws  should 
be  presented   to   the  legislatures  when    next   in   session. 

INTERSTATE   COMMERCE. 

We  urge  upon  the  Congress  of  the  United  States  that  it  enact  an  amend- 
ment to  the  Interstate  Commerce  law,  whereby  the  Interstate  Commerce 
Commission  may,  at  its  discretion  or  upon  proper  complaint,  suspend  ad- 
vances on  freight  rates  or  changes  of  classification  before  they  become 
effective,  pending  an  investigation  as  to  their  reasonableness;  and  that  all 
rates   be   submitted   to   the   Commission   before   becoming   effective. 

PUBLIC    DOMAIN. 

RESOLVED,  That  the  rights  of  way  granted  by  the  Federal  Govern- 
ment for  power  development  on  the  public  domain  should  be  conditional  upon 
continued  construction  work  in  good  faith  and  sincerity,  with  a  prompt  com- 
pletion  of  the  works  for  which   the   rights  are  requested. 

PHILIPPINES. 

We  recommend  to  the  American  people  a  more  thorough  study  of  the 
opportunity  of  utilizing  the  vast  resources  of  the  Philippine  Islands,  and  that 
the  Federal  Government  be  asked  to  facilitate,  in  every  possible  way,  legis- 
lation for  such  a  revision  of  the  insular  public  land  and  tariff  laws  as  will 
be   conducive   to    the   economic   prosperity    of   the   Philippines. 

BUREAU  OF  MINES. 

We  heartily  endorse  the  movement  to  create  a  Bureau  of  Mines,  and  we 
urgently  urge  upon  the  Congress  of  the  United  States  that  a  law  on  that 
subject  be  enacted  at  the  earliest  day  possible  and  that  ample  appropriations 
be  provided  for  its  maintenance. 

AMERICAN    MERCHANT   MARINE. 

The  Congress  of  the  United  States  should,  at  its  next  session,  provide 
liberally  for  the  expansion  and  maintenance  of  the  American  merchant 
marine  engaged  in  foreign  trade,  because  its  existing  condition  is  dangerous 
to  both  our  naval,  military  and  commercial  strength,  and  national  progress; 
that  we  recommend  action  be  taken  at  once  before  greater  or  insuperable 
difficulties  present  themselves;  and  the  delegates  here  assembled  pledge 
themselves  unitedly  to  urge  upon  their  respective  Senators  and  Representa- 
tives in  Congress  such  prompt  action  as  will  insure  the  supremacy  of  Ameri- 
can  shipping,   and   thus   safeguard   national   defense  and   commerce. 

UNITED     STATES     PUBLIC     HEALTH     AND     MARINE     HOSPITAL     SERVICE. 

We  endorse  the  work  of  the  Public  Health  and  Marine  Hospital  Service, 
and  desire  to  express  to  the  President,  the  Secretary  of  the  Treasury,  and 
Surgeon-General  Wyman.  thanks  and  appreciation  for  their  efficient  services 
in  protecting  the  health  and  improving  the  sanitary  conditions  of  the  Trans- 
Mississippi   country. 


258  REPORT    OF    PROCEEDINGS 

ALASKA  -  YUKON  -  PACIFIC     EXPOSITION. 

"We  earnestly  request  the  transcontinental  railroads  of  America  to  grant 
a  one-way  round  trip  rate  to  Seattle  during  the  Alaska-Yukon-Pacific  Ex- 
position, in  order  that  the  people  of  the  country  may  have  every  opportunity 
to  become  acquainted  with  the  resources,  development  and  destiny  of  the 
great   "West. 

GOOD  ROADS. 

The  enormous  cost  involved  in  the  transportation  of  farm  products  and 
other  materials  over  imperfect  roadways  warrants  the  investment  of  large 
sums  by  the  National  and  State  governments,  to  encourage  the  construction 
and  aid  in  the  maintenance  of  improved  highways,  to  reduce  that  cost;  and 
this  Congress  requests  such  attention  and  appropriations  by  the  Congress  of 
the  United  States,  and  by  the  Legislatures  of  the  various  Trans-Mississippi 
states,  as  will  induce  the  construction,  and  guarantee  the  maintenance  of 
permanent  thoroughfares;  and  such  legislation  as  will  compel  scientific  and 
specialized  engineering,  economic  administration,  strict  accounting,  and  faith- 
ful service  in  this  very   important  public  utility. 

INTERNATIONAL  FISHERIES. 

RESOLVED,  That  we  approve  the  work  of  the  International  Fisheries 
Commission,  and  of  the  efforts  of  the  National  Government  to  co-operate 
with  the  different  states  in  the  protection  and  propagation  of  fishes  in  the 
interstate    and   boundary   waters. 

INDIAN    LANDS. 

We  favor  the  removal  of  all  restrictions  upon  the  allottees  of  Indian  lands 

within    the   limits    of   Oklahoma,   and    respectfully    request    of   the   Congress    of 

the  United   States   that   a  law   to   accomplish   this  be   adopted   during   the   next 

session. 

NEW  MEXICO  AND  ARIZONA. 

"We  urge  that  the  Congress  of  the  -nited  States,  at  its  next  session,  take 
the  proper  preliminary  steps  providing  for  the  admission  into  the  Federal 
Union,   as   separate   states,    the   territories   of  New  Mexico  and  Arizona. 

SUBMITTED    TO    WASHINGTON. 

In  conformity  with  the  by-laws,  the  above  recommendations  were  cer- 
tified and  forwarded  to  the  President  of  the  United  States.  Honorable 
Theodore  Roosevelt;  the  presiding  officer  of  the  Senate  of  the  United  States, 
Honorable  C.  W.  Fairbanks,  and  Honorable  Joseph  G.  Cannon.  Speaker  of 
the  House;  and  also  to  the  Senate  and  House,  to  whom  the  recommendations 
were  certified  separately,  and  forwarded  to  the  committees  to  which  they 
specifically    relate. 

Replies  were  received  as  follows: 

President  Roosevelt. 

The  White  House,  Washington.  Oct.  28,  1908. 
Mr.  Arthur  F..  Francis,  Secretary  Trans-Mississippi  Commercial  Congress, 
San  Francisco,  California. 
My  Dear  Sir:      The   President  thanks  you  cordially  for  your  letter  of   the 
22nd  inst.  and  was  delighted  to  hear  what  a  success  the  Congress  was. 

Very  truly  yours, 

WM.   LOEB,   JR., 
Secretary  to  the  President. 

Vice-President   Fairbanks. 

The  Vice-  President's  Chamber,  Washington,  Nov.  2,  1908. 
Mr.  Arthur  F.  Francis,  Secretary  Trans-Mississippi  Commercial  Congress, 
San   Francisco,   California. 
Dear  Sir:     I  beg  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  your  favor  of  the  22nd  ult. 
transmitting    a    copy    of    recommendations    adopted    at    the    nineteenth    annual 
session   of  the   Trans-Mississippi  Commercial   Congress,    held   in   San   Francisco 
October   6-10,  and  to  say  that  the  recommendations  will   be  brought  to  the  at- 
tention of  the  Senate  at  its  next  session.  Very  respectfully, 

CHAS.    F.    FAIRBANKS. 

Speaker    Cannon. 

Danville.   111..   Oct.    31,   1908. 

Mr.  Arthur  F.  Francis,  Secretary  Trans-Mississippi  Commercial  Congress, 
San  Francisco,  California. 
Dear  Sir:  Acknowledging  receipt  of  your  favor  of  the  22nd  inst.  inclosing 
a  copy  of  the  recommendations  adopted  at  the  nineteenth  annual  session,  held 
in  San  Francisco  Oct.  10,  1908.  I  beg  to  state  that  in  compliance  with  your  re- 
quest the  resolutions  of  the  Commercial  Congress  will,  on  the  assembling  of 
the  National   Congress  be  referred   to   the  proper  committees  for  consideration. 

Verv  trulv  yours, 

JOS.    G.    CANNON.    Speaker. 


TRANS-MISSISSIPPI    COMMERCIAL    CONGRESS. 


PERMANENT    MEMBERS,  1908. 

1  J.    B.    Case,    President    Continental    Creamery    Company,    Abilene,    Kansas. 

2  R.     M.     Bressie,     President     Oklahoma    Live    Stock    Association,     Bressie, 

Oklahoma. 

3  Col.  Ike  T.  Pryor.  President  Southwestern  Stock  Raisers  Association,  San 

Antonio,  Texas. 

4  R.   G.    Spaulding,   Secretary   Commercial   Club,    Ardmore,    Oklahoma. 

5  Honorable   Geo.   A.    Swink,    President   State   Bank,    Rocky   Ford,   Colorado. 

6  John  Henry  Smith.  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah. 

7  George  A.   Smith,  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah. 

8  Richard  W.  Young-,  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah. 

9  George   Romney,   Salt  Lake  City,   Utah. 

10  S.    O.    Bennion,    Salt    Lake    City,    Utah. 

1 1  Col.   W.   F.   Baker,   Council  Bluffs,  Iowa. 

12  Levi   Baker,    Shenandoah,   Iowa. 

13  H.   McCartney,   Thurman,   Iowa. 

14  Honorable  James  V.  Tully,  Glencoe,  New  Mexico. 

15  B.    Magoffin,    Duluth,   Minnesota. 

16  W.  R.  Pace,  Pace  Real  Estate  &  Abstract  Company,  Laredo,  Texas. 

17  Honorable   Ed.    F.   Harris,    Galveston,    Texas. 

18  Honorable  "Walter  F.  Frear,  Honolulu.   Territory   of  Hawaii. 

19  Geo.    H.    Monroe,    Monroe    Bros.    &    Company,    Mortgage    Brokers,    Joliet. 

Illinois. 

20  D.   P.  Marum,  Woodward,  Oklahoma. 

21  John   J.   Gerlach,   President   Bank,   Woodward,   Oklahoma. 

22  Henry  T.   Clarke,   President  Upper  Missouri  River  Improvement  Associa- 

tion,   Omaha,   Nebraska. 

23  J.  M.   Guild,   Commissioner  Commercial   Club,   Omaha,   Nebraska. 

24  Honorable  Alva  Adams,  President  Pueblo  Savings  Bank,  Pueblo,  Colorado. 

25  Tom    Richardson,    Manager    Commercial    Club,    Portland,    Oregon. 

26  J.    S.   Kerr,    Secretary   Maritime   Association,    Galveston.    Texas. 

27  E.  L.  Whitney,  Secretary  Herington  Commercial  Club,  Herington,  Kansas. 

28  T.    W.    Tomlinson,    Secretary    American    National    Live    Stock    Association, 

Denver,  Colorado. 

29  Geo.  H.  Morgan,  Secretary  Merchants  Exchange,  St.  Louis.  Missouri. 

30  H.   P.  Wood,   Secretary   Hawaiian  Promotion   Committee,  Honolulu,   Terri- 

tory  of  Hawaii. 

31  W.    H.    Lape,    General    Manager    Cofferville    Furniture    Company,    C'offey- 

ville,  Kansas. 

32  Honorable  F.  A.  Williams,  Attorney-at-law,   Denver,  Colorado. 

33  Lawrence    M.    Jones,    President   Missouri    River   Valley    Improvement   As- 

sociation, Kansas  City,  Missouri. 

34  Amedee  B.  Cole,  President  John  Jackson  Investment  Company,  St.  Louis, 

Missouri. 

35  Anton    H.    Classen,    President    Oklahoma    Railway    Company,    Oklahoma 

City,  Oklahoma. 

36  Herbert  Strain,  Strain  Bros.,  Great  Falls,  Montana. 

37  Walker    Hill,    President    Mechanics-American    National    Bank,    St.    Louis, 

Missouri. 

38  Frank  E.  Schlater,  County  Treasurer,  Plattsmoutn.  Nebraska. 

39  Bruce  M.  Priddy.  Secretary  Real  Estate  Exchange,  Kansas  City,  Missouri. 

40  H.  A.  Tukey,  Secretary  Omaha  Real  Estate  Exchange,   Omaha,  Nebraska. 

41  Col.  Geo.  M.  Perine,  San  Francisco,  California. 

42  "Wm.   J.   Tod,  Maple  Hill,  Kansas. 

43  Honorable   W.   W.   Turney,   Attorney-at-law,   El   Paso,   Texas. 

44  Honorable  F.   B.   Thurber,   President  Export  Association,   New  York   City. 

45  Arthur  F.  Francis,  Cripple  Creek,   Colorado. 

46  J.   B.   Whittier,   President,   First  National  Bank.   Decatur,   Nebraska. 

47  "W.   L.   Wright,  Wholesale  Grocer,   Pomona,   California. 

4S     F.    C.    Drescher,    President    Mebius    &    Drescher    Company,    Sacramento, 
California. 

49  E.    R.    Lilienthal,    Lilienthal    &   Company,    19-29    Minna   Street,    San    Fran- 

cisco,   California. 

50  F.  J.  Koster,   678  Monadnock  Building,  San  Francisco.  California. 

51  D.    R.    Francis,    Francis    Bros.    &    Company,    214    North    Fourth    Street,    St. 

Louis,   Missouri. 


52 

L. 

53 

W 

54 

N. 

55 

M. 

56 

57 

X. 
W 

260  REPORT    OF    PROCEEDINGS 

A.    Desmond.    Secretary    Chamber    of    Commerce,    Highland.    San    Ber- 
nardino  County.    California. 
.  L.  Steinweg,  President  First  Xational  Bank  of  Yakima,  Xorth  Yakima, 
Washing-ton. 

H.    Latimer,    Manager    Dexter    Horton    &    Company,    Bankers,    Seattle, 
Washington. 

F.  Henderson,    Vice-President   Eastern    &    Western    Dumber   Company, 
Portland.  Oregon. 

G.  Larimore,    Larimore,    Xorth    Dakota. 
William  F.   Herrin,   Chief  Counsel,   Southern   Pacific   Company,    San    Fran- 
cisco,   California. 

58  Henry     G.     W.     Dinkelspiel,     Dinkelspiel    &    Schlesinger,     San     Francisco, 

California. 

59  Richard  A.  Riepe,  Mines  &  Mining,  Ely,  Nevada. 

60  W.     D.     Simmons,     President     Simmons     Hardware     Company,     St.     Louis, 

Missouri. 

61  A.  L.  Stetson,  President  Stetson-Barret  Company.  Wholesale  Grocers,  Los 

Angeles,   California. 

62  W.  F.  R.  Mills,  Secretary  Denver  Chamber  of  Commerce  &  Board  of  Trade, 

Denver,  Colorado. 

63  Theo.  B.   Wilcox,   President  Portland  Flouring  Mills,  Portland,  Oregon. 

64  X.  M.  Tabor,  Brown  Palace  Hotel,  Denver,  Colorado. 

65  S.    L.    Kline,    Wholesale    &    Retail    Clothing,    Dry    Goods,    Etc.,    Corvallis, 

Oregon. 

66  C.   H.   Bessent,   Cashier  First  Xational   Bank.   Norman,   Oklahoma. 

67  Robert   Newton    Lynch,    Secretary    and    Treasurer    Xorth    of    Bay    Counties 

Association.    Petaluma,    California. 

68  E.  E.  Brehm,   301  Oriental  Building,   Seattle.  Washington. 

69  Phineas   F.   Ferguson.    2027   Vallejo   Street,    San    Francisco,    California. 

70  P.   H.  W.   Ross,   Secretary   Ellensburg  Chamber  of  Commerce,   Ellensburg. 

Washington. 

71  A.  B.   Poole,  Secretary  Commercial  Club  of  Topeka,  Topeka.   Kansas. 

7  2      J.    T.    McChesney,    Everett    Improvement    Company,    Everett.    Washington. 

73  Honorable  John   W.   Xoble.   Former   Secretary   of  Interior,   President   Har- 

rison's  Cabinet,    St.    Louis,    Missouri. 

74  J.    H.    Brady,    President   American    Falls   Power   Company,    Ltd.,    Pocatello, 

Idaho. 

T.",  A.  M.  Conard,  President  Sonora  Copper  Company,  Xogales,  Arizona. 

7»;  Aaron    Gove,    Great   Western    Sugar   Association,    Denver,    Colorado. 

77  L.   L.    Northrup.    President   Xorthrup   Xational    Bank.    Iola,    Kansas. 

78  James  M.   Brinson,   City  Attorney.    Cripple  Creek,   Colorado. 

79  J.   W.   Creech,    President   Bank   of   Herington,   Herington,    Kansas. 

80  Honorable    Jas.    C.    Morrow,    Washington,    Kansas. 

81  C.   S.   E.  Holland,   President  Interstate   Inland  Waterway,  Victoria.   Texas. 

82  Col.  R.  C.  Kerens,  Salt  Lake,  Los  Angeles  &  San  Pedro  Railway  Company, 

401    Times    Building,    St.    Louis,    Missouri. 

83  Will.  C.  Barnes,  United  States  Department  of  Agriculture,  Forest  Service, 

Albuquerque,   Xew  Mexico. 

84  W.  S.  Collins,  President  Big  Horn  Investment  Company,   Basin.   Wyoming. 

85  B.     Rockwell,     708     East     Forty-Sevent  li     Street,     Kansas     City,     Missouri. 

President    First    Xational    Bank,    Junction    City.     Kansas. 

86  Charles   A.   Stokes,    Stokes    &    Sherman.    Lawyers.    Denver,    Colorado. 

s7      E.  H.  Forney,  President    Belle  Springs  Creamery    Company,  Abilene,  Kansas. 

88  Truman    G.    Palmer,    Secretary   American   Beet   Sugar   Association,    Wash- 

ington. District  of  Columbia. 

89  Jesse    Knight.    Knight    Investment   Company,    Provo,    Utah. 

90  G.  J.  Tansey,  President  and  General  Manager  St.  Louis  Transfer  Company, 

St.    Louis.    Missouri. 

91  M.    B.    Augustine,    Augustine   &   Keyer,    815    First   Avenue,    Seattle,    Wash- 

ington. 

92  W.   M.   l.add.  Ladd  &  Tilton  Bank,  Portland.   Oregon. 

93  R.   L.    Darrow,   Manager   John   Deere   Plow   Company,    Portland,    Oregon. 

94  Honorable    W.    \Y.   Cotton,   Attorn ey-at-Law,    Portland.   Oregon. 

95  Simon   Guggenheim,  United  States  Senator,   Denver,   Colorado. 

96  Geo.  T.  Odell,  General  .Manager  Consolidated  Wagon  &  Machine  Company, 

Salt   Lake  City.  Utah. 

97  James    F.    Callbreath    Jr.,    Secretary    American    Mining    Congress,    Denver, 

Colorado. 

98  B.  A.  Lockwood,  The  B.  A.  Lockwood  Grain  Company,    Des  Moines.   Iowa. 

99  Honorable    Thomas    Burke.    Burke    Block,    Se.-niie.    Washington. 

100      L.    B.    Seeley,    President    and    General    Manager    Columbia    River    &    Puget 

Sound   Xavigation    Company,    Portland,    Oregon. 
litl      Geo.    F.     Fry.    .Manager    Cripple    Creek    Ore    Sampling    Company,    Cripple 

Creek,  Colorado. 


TRANS-MISSISSIPPI    COMMERCIAL    CONGRESS  261 

102  E'  ?«i?f2i!?mln'   President  California  State  Mining  Association,   Oakland, 

103  J.  M.  Wright    General  Manager  The  Joe  Dandy  Mining  Company,  Cripple 

104  Henry    T.    Oxnard,    President    American    Beet    Sugar    Company,    Oxnard 

California.  *       "'     w-^"a'lu> 

105  Thomas  F.  Walsh,  Denver,  Colorado. 

106  Peter  Loggie,  Standard  Investment  Company,  North  Bend,  Oregon. 
,«o     Chas.  A.  Fellows,  General  Contractor,  Los  Angeles,  California. 

108      Darwin   P.   Kingsley,   President  New   York   Life   Insurance   Company,   New 
x  or  it  (_-iLjr. 

AUXILIARY    ORGANIZATIONS. 

The  organizations  whose  officers  hold  permanent  membership  cards  in 
the  Trans-Mississippi  Commercial  Congress  are  as  follows: 

Oklahoma  Live  Stock  Association.  R.  M.  Bressie,  Bressie,  Oklahoma  Presi- 
dent. 

Southwestern  Cattle  Raisers*  Association,  San  Antonio,  Texas  Col.  Ike  T 
Pryor.   President. 

Ardmore  Commercial  Club,  Ardmore,  Oklahoma.     R.  G.  Spaulding,  Secretary. 

Upper  Missouri  River  Improvement  Association,  Omaha,  Nebraska.  Henrv 
T.    Clarke,    President. 

Omaha  Commercial  Club,  Omaha,  Nebraska.     J.  M.  Guild,  Commissioner. 

Commercial    Club,    Portland,    Oregon.     Tom    Richardson,    Manager. 

Maritime  Association,  Galveston,   Texas.     J.   S.   Kerr,   Secretary. 

Commercial  Club,  Herington,   Kansas.     E.  L.  Whitney,  Secretary. 

American  National  Live  Stock  Association,  Denver,  Colorado.  T.  W.  Tom- 
linson,    Secretary. 

Merchants'   Exchange,   St.  Louis,  Missouri.     Geo.   H.   Morgan,    Secretary. 

Hawaiian  Promotion   Committee,  Honolulu,  T.  H.     H.  P.   Wood,   Secretary. 

Missouri  River  Valley  Improvement  Association,  Kansas  City,  Missouri. 
Lawrence  M.  Jones,  President. 

Omaha  Real  Estate  Exchange,  Omaha,  Nebraska.     H.  A.  Tukey,  Secretary. 

Real  Estate  Exchange,  Kansas  City,  Missouri.     Bruce  M.  Priddy,  Secretary. 

United  States  Export  Association,  New  York  City.  Hon.  F.  B.  Thurber, 
President. 

Chamber  of  Commerce,  Highland,  San  Bernardino  County.  L.  A.  Desmond, 
Secretary. 

Clearing  House  Association,   Seattle,  Washington.   N.  H.  Latimer,   Secretary. 

Chamber  of  Commerce  and  Board  of  Trade,  Denver,  Colorado.  W.  F.  R. 
Mills,   Secretary. 

North  of  Bay  Counties  Association,  Petaluma.  Robert  Newton  Lynch,  Sec- 
retary. Comprising  the  promotion  organizations  of  Napa,  Sonoma,  Lake,  Men- 
docino  and    Marin   counties,    north    of   the   Bay   of   San    Francisco. 

Chamber  of  Commerce,  Ellensburg,  Washington.     P.  H.  W.  Ross,  Secretary. 

Commercial   Club,   Topeka,   Kansas.      A.   B.   Poole,   Secretary. 

Everett  Improvement  Company,  Everett,  Washington.  J.  T.  McChesney, 
President. 

Great  Western  Sugar  Association,  Denver,  Colorado.  Aaron  Gove,  Sec- 
retary. 

Interstate  Inland  Waterway  Association.  Victoria,  Texas.  C.  S.  E.  Holland, 
President. 

American  Beet  Sugar  Association,  Washington,  D.  C.  Truman  G.  Palmer, 
Secretary. 

American  Mining  Congress,  Denver,  Colorado.  James  F.  Callbreath  Jr., 
Secretary. 

.        California  State  Mining  Association.  Oakland,  Calif.     E.  H.  Benjamin,   Sec- 
retary. 

American  Beet  Sugar  Association,  Oxnard,  Calif.  Henry  T.  Oxnard,  Pres- 
ident. 

Chamber  of  Commerce,  Honolulu.     Hon.  Walter  F.  Frear,  Governor. 

Cripple  Creek  Mine  Owners  Association.  J.  M.  Wright.  General  Manager 
the  Joe  Dandy  Mining  Co. 

Commercial  Club,  Woodward,  Oklahoma.     P.  Marum,  Vice-President. 

Departments     of    Government     Represented. 

The    following    departments    of    the    Government    were    represented : 
President    of    the    United    States,    by    Hon.    William    R.    Wheeler,    Assistant 
Secretary.    Department    of    Commerce    and    Labor,    with    message    from    Presi- 
dent Roosevelt. 

Conservation  of  Natural  Resources  Commission,  Hon.  Geo.  C.  Pardee,  Oak- 
land,  California. 


262  REPORT    OF    PROCEEDINGS 

Association    of   Governors,   Hon.   John   C.   Cutler,   Governor  of  Utah. 

Reclamation    Service,    Hon.    C.   J.    Blanchard,   Chief   Statistician. 

Department  of  Commerce  and  Labor,  Hon.   Oscar  Straus,   Secretary. 

Department    of    Interior,    Hon.    James    R.    Garfield,    Secretary. 

Postoffice  Department,  Arthur  G.  Fisk,  Postmaster  of  San  Francisco. 

Department  of  State,  Hon.  John  Barrett,  with  special  rank  of  Envoy 
Extraordinary  and  Minister  Plenipotentiary  to  deliver  to  the  Congress  the  mes- 
sage from  "the  twenty  Latin-American  Republics. 

International  Bureau  of  the  American  Republics,  Hon.  John  Barrett, 
Director-General. 

Venezuela,   Josh  H.    Devalle. 

States  Represented. 

Governors  of  the  following  states  appointed  delegates: 

Arkansas — X.  O.  Pendoth,   Governor. 

Colorado — H.  A.   Buchtel,  Governor. 

California — J.  N.  Gillett,  Governor. 

Iowa — Albert  E.  Cummins,  Governor. 

Idaho — Frank  R.  Gooding,  Governor. 

Kansas — E.  W.  Hoch,  Governor. 

Louisiana — M.    J.    Sanders,    Governor. 

Montana — John  A.   Rodgers,  Governor. 

Missouri — Jos.    M.    Folk,    Governor. 

Minnesota — John  A.  Johnson,  Governor. 

North  Dakota — John  Burke,  Governor. 

Nebraska — Geo.   S.   Sheldon,   Governor. 

Nevada — D.  L.  Dickenson,  Governor. 

Oklahoma — Chas.   N.  Haskell,   Governor. 

Oregon — Geo.   A.    Chamberlain,    Governor. 

Texas — T.  M.   Campbell,   Governor. 

Utah — Jno.   C.   Cutler,  Governor. 

Washington — A.  E.  Mead,  Governor. 

Wyoming — Bryant  B.  Brooks,  Governor. 

Territories    Represented. 

Governors    of   the    following   territories    appointed    delegates: 

New    Mexico — Geo.    Curry,    Governor. 

Arizona — Jos.  E.  Kibbey,  Governor. 

Hawaii — Walter   F.    Frear,    Governor. 

Alaska — V.   B.  Hoggatt,   Governor. 

Philippines — James    F.    Smith,    Governor. 

Cities    Represented. 

Mayors  of  the  following  cities  appointed  delegates: 

Arkansas — Texarkana,  Fort  Smith,  Hot  Springs,  Fayette. 

California — Sacramento,  Korbel,  Los  Angeles,  San  Francisco,  Eureka, 
Stockton,  Oakland,  Pomona,  Vacaville,  Fresno,  Sonoma,  Willows,  Grass  Valley, 
Woodland,  Pacific  Grove,  San  Diego,  Placerville,  Santa  Rosa,  Marysville, 
Visalia,  Porterville,  Lindsay,  Exeter,  Dinuba,  Tulare,  Riverside,  Santa  Ana, 
Petaluma,  Ripon,  Mantaca,  Ukiah,  Modesto,  Red  Bluff,  Yuba  City,  Woodland, 
Alturas,  Orland,  Watsonville,  Holtville,  Slating-ton,  Colusa,  Santa  Maria,  Win- 
ters, Oxnard,  Berkeley,  Alameda,  Los  Minos,  Santa  Cruz,  Chico,  Oroville, 
Williams,  Selma,  San  Mateo,  San  Pedro,  San  Jose,  Fortuna,  Napa,  Merced,  San 
Leandro,   Santa  Clara,  San  Rafael. 

Colorado,  Leadville,  Canon  City,  Denver.  Cripple  Creek,  Pueblo.  Fort  Coir 
lins,  Fort  Morgan,  Ouray,  Lamar,  Loveland,  Berthoud,  Colorado  Springs, 
Sterling,  Manzanola,  Grass  Junction,  Trinidad,  Fowler,  Rocky  Ford,  La  Junta, 
Las  Animas. 

Hawaii — Honolulu,   Hilo. 

Iowa — Shenandoah,  Sioux  City,  Thurman,  Council  Bluffs,  Northwood,  New 
Hampton,  Fonda,  Cresco,  Osage,  Humboldt,  Norwood,  Ackley,  Swea  City, 
Bancroft,   Eldora,  Marathon,   Iowa   City. 

Idaho — Nampa,  Moscow,  Paris,  Gooding,  Idaho  Falls. 

Kansas — Kansas  City,  Topeka,  Hill  City,  lola.  Osage  City.  Lawrence, 
Manhattan,  Holton,  Wichita,  Salina,  Atchison,  McPherson,  Wellington,  Cof- 
feyville,   Fort   Scott,   Great   Bend,   Peabody,   Emporia,   Washington,    Hutchinson. 

Louisiana — New  Orleans,  Napoleonville,  Franklin,  Donaldsville,  Morgan 
City,  New  Iberia,  Crowley,  Nouma,   Lake  Charles,  Alexandria,   Gueydan. 

Montana-  Missoula,  Miles  City,  Melrose,  Glasgow,  Elaina,  Townsend, 
Helena,    Anaconda,    Forsyth,    Lewiston,    Kalispell,     Bozeman,    Wisdom,    Dillon, 


TRANS-MISSISSIPPI    COMMERCIAL    CONGRESS  263 

Twin     Bridges.     Moore.     Harlowton,     Thompson     Falls,     Virginia     Citv      Rntte 
Hamilton,    Libbey,    Boulder,    White   Hall.  S  wty'     autte- 

Missouri — Nevada,  Kansas  City,  St.  Joseph,  Gower,  Festus  Macon 
Palmyra,   Neosho,    Sedalia,   Dearborn,    St.   Louis,    Independence,    Joplin' 

Minnesota— Alexandria.  Rochester,  St.  Paul,  Minneapolis,  Little  Falls 
Duluth,    Red   Wing-,    Eveleth,    Wheaton.  ' 

North  Dakota— Fargo,  Grand  Forks.  Drayton,  Devils  Lake,  Lakota, 
Doyon,  Lanmore,  Washburn,  Mandan,  Bismarck,  Glen  Ullin,  Williston  Under- 
wood,   Emmett,   Wilton,   Valley   City. 

New  Mexico— Santa  Fe.  Silver  City,  Albuquerque,  Las  Vegas,  Clavton, 
Hanover,  Gallup.  Clovis,  San  Antonio,  Rosewell,  Las  Cruces,  White  Oaks 
Alamogordo,   Bernalillo. 

Nebraska — Omaha,  Lincoln,  Beaver  Crossing,  Beatrice,  Central  City 
Seward,  Fremont,  Kearney,  Grand  Island,  Hastings,  Van  (Miller  Countyh 
Newport,  Wahoo. 

Nevada — Carson  City,  Ely,  Elko,  Tonopah,  Menden,  Fallon,  Winnemucca, 
Goldfleld. 

Oklahoma — McAlester,  Keota,  El  Reno,  Ardmore,  Muskogee,  Tulsa  Pauls 
Valley,   Fort  Gilson. 

Oregon — Eugene,  Burns,  Baker  City,  Davton.  Monroe.  Princeville  Union 
Hood  River,  Roseburg,  Coquille,  Des  Chutes,  Toledo,  Echo.  Wasco,  Sumpter, 
Tillamook,  Pendleton,  Marshfleld,  Portland,  Klamath  Falls.  North  Bend 
Junction    City,   Aberdeen,   Wagner,    Deadwood. 

Texas — Austin,  Barstow,  Victoria,  San  Antonio.  Dallas,  EJ  Paso,  Galves- 
ton. Fort  Worth,  Abilene.  Texarkana,  Port  Lavaca,  Corpus  Christi.  Rock- 
port,   Yoakum,   Seguin,    Brownsville,   Tyler,   Sherman,    Cuero,   Temple,    Houston. 

Utah — Salt   Lake   City,    Provo,    Ogden,   Kaysville,   Lehi. 

Washington — North  Yakima,  Seattle,  Ellensburg,  Everett,  Love,  Tacoma. 
Bellingham,    Townsend,   Vancouver. 

Wyoming — Laramie,  Basin,  Cody,  Rawlins,  Douglas,  Glen  Rock,  Lander, 
Cheyenne,    Sheridan,    Rock    Springs,    Green    River,    Kemmerer,    Uva. 

Organizations    Represented. 

The   following  commercial   organizations   appointed   delegates: 

Tulare  County  Board  of  Trade,  Arthur  E.  Miot,  Manager,  Visalia,  Calif. 

Visalia   Board   of  Trade,  Visalia,  Calif. 

Marysville  Chamber  of  Commerce,  W.  H.  Parks  Jr.,  Secretarv,  Marvsville 
Calif. 

Chamber  of  Commerce.  James  H.  Gray,  President,  Santa  Rosa,  Calif. 

Chamber  of  Commerce,  T.  R.  Finley,  President,  Santa  Maria,  Calif. 

Commercial  Club,  N.  J.  Ludi,  Secretary,  Wahoo,  Nebraska. 

Central  West  Texas  Association  of  Commercial  Clubs,  L.  M.  Burie,  Presi- 
dent. Stanford.  Texas. 

Commercial  Club,  J.  S.  Hart,  President,  Aberdeen,  Wash. 

Board  of  Trade,  C.  H.  Mclsaac,  Secretary,  J.  P.  Twist,  President,  Santa 
Cruz,  Calif. 

Commercial  Club,  Thomas  M.  Williams,  President,  Cape  Girardeau,   Mo. 

Commercial  Club,  D.  L.  Burnside,  Secretary,  Poplar  Bluff,  Mo. 

Commercial  Club,  J.  F.  Price,  Secretary,  Keota,  Oklahoma. 

Commercial   Club,   Geo.   E.   Boos,   Secretary,   Seattle.   Washington. 

Commercial   Club,  E.   H.   Forney,   President,   Abilene,   Kansas. 

Commercial  Club,  W.  A.  Sandford.  President,  Joplin,  Mo. 

Chamber  of  Commerce,  C.   F.   Swiggett,   Portland,  Oregon. 

Chamber  of  Commerce,  G.  B.  Ocheltree.  President.  Berkeley,  Calif. 

Business  League,  H.  L.  Gueydan.  President,  Gueydan,  La. 

Chamber  of  Commerce,  R.  S.   Kitrick,  President,  Oroville,   Calif. 

Chamber  of  Commerce,  Wm.  Hammond  Jr.,  President,  Alameda,  Calif. 

Commercial  Club.  Chas.  A.  Beno.  President,  Council  Bluffs,  Iowa. 

Chamber  of  Commerce,  W.  P.  Chaney,  President,  Holtville,  Calif. 

Chamber  of  Commerce,  Colusa  County,  I.  N.  Whitney,  Secretary,  Colusa, 
Calif. 

Chamber  of  Commerce,  Watsonville  and  Pajaro  Co.,  Edward  A.  Hall.  Pres., 
Watsonville,  Calif. 

Commercial , Club,  L.   H.   Pierson.   Secretary.   Grays  Harbor.  "Washington. 

Chamber  of  "Commerce,  Jno.  M.  Perry,  Pres..  Stockton,   California. 

Board  of  Trade,  J.  H.  Coleman,  Pres.,  San  Mateo.  California. 

Commercial  Club,  Fred    C.  Piel,  Pres.,  Junction  City.  Oregon. 

Chamber  of  Commerce,  Tehama  Co.,  A.  L.  Conard,  Pres.,  Red  Bluff.  Calif. 

Chamber  of  Commerce,  Fresno  Co..  M.  F.  Tarpey,  Pres.,  Fresno,  California. 

Chamber  of  Commerce,  Jno.  H.  McGraw,  Pres.,  Seattle.  Washington. 

Board  of  Trade,  H.  B.  Schneider,  Pres.,  New  Orleans,  La. 

Chamber  of  Commerce,  Jno.  T.  Gaffey,  Pres.,  San  Pedro.  California. 

Merchants'  Exchange,  R.  N.   Gard,   President,  Oakland,  California. 


264  REPORT    OF    PROCEEDINGS 

Board  of  Trade,  H.  P.  Monroe,  Secy..  Fortuna,  California. 

Chamber  of  Commerce,    D.   A.   Dunlap.   President,   Napa,  California. 

Business  Club.  N.  E.  Franklin,   Deadwood,  South   Dakota. 

Chamber  of  Commerce,  J.   W.   Knox,   President,   Merced,  California. 

Board   of  Trade,  J.  N.   Frank,  Secy.,   San   Leandro,  California. 

Commercial  Club,   Lee  Cruce,   President,   Ardmore,   Oklahoma. 

Board  of  Trade,   F.   S.  Townsend,   Pres.,   Portland.   Oregon. 

Commercial   League,  Francis   Hope.   Secy..   Santa   Clara,   California. 

Chamber  of  Commerce,   Humboldt   Co.,   E.   E.    Skinner,    Pres.,    Eureka,   Calif. 

Chamber  of  Commerce,  James  F.  Morgan.  Pres..  Honolulu,  T.  H. 

Chamber  of  Commerce,  South  San  Joaquin,  Louis  S.  Wetmore,  Pres.,  Stock- 
ton.  California. 

Board  of  Trade.  G.  B.  Moore,  Pres.,  Lindsay.  California. 

Chamber   of   Commerce.    Alden   Anderson,    Pres.,   Sacramento.    California. 

Commercial  Club,  H.   B.  Topping,  Pres.,   Kansas  City,  Missouri. 

Commercial  Club,  C.  W.  Boon,  Pres.,  Tyler,  Texas. 

Chamber  of  Commerce,  Frank  Wiggins,  Secy.,  Los  Angeles,  California. 

Mercantile  Club,   Dr.  Geo.  M.  Gray,  Pres.,   Kansas  City,   Kansas. 

Board  of  Trade,  Pajaro  Valley,  Geo.  W.  Gretteo,  Sec'y..   Watsonville,  Calif. 

Merchants'  Association,  W.  Trinkler,   Pres.,  San  Jose,  California. 

Chamber  of  Commerce,  T.  J.  Fisher,  Pres..  Colorado  Springs,  Colorado. 

Board  of  Trade,  G.  C.  Thaxter,  Secy.,  F.  P.  Meserve,  Pres.,  Redlands, 
California. 

Merchants'   Association,    Andrew   M.    Davis,    President,    San    Francisco. 

California  State  Board  of  Trade,  Arthur  R.  Briggs,  Pres.,  San  Francisco, 
California. 

Chamber    of    Commerce,    Chas.   C.    Moore,    President,    San    Francisco,    Calif. 

Colorado  State  Commercial  Association,  Geo.  E.  Skinner,  Pres.,  Denver. 
Colorado. 

Commercial  Club,  E.  W.  Langdon,  Pres..  Albany,   Ore. 

Chamber  of  Commerce.  Everett  G.   Griggs,   Pres.,   Tacoma,  Washington. 

Chamber   of    Commerce,    Porterville,    California. 

Chamber  of  Commerce.  San  Diego,  California. 

Chamber   of  Commerce,   Nome.   Alaska. 

Chamber   of   Commerce,   John    Gibson,   Pres.,   Manila,    Philippine    Islands. 

Chamber  of  Commerce.  W.   S.  Day,   Pres..   Santa   Barbara.   California. 

Commercial  Club,  H.  O.  McClure,  Pres.,  Tulsa,  Oklahoma. 

Board  of  Trade,   Stanislaus  Co.,  Modesto,  California. 

Commercial   Club,   Clifford  L.  Jackson,   Pres..  Muskogee.   Oklahoma. 

Chamber  of  Commerce.  Robert  Newton   Lynch.  Pres.,   Petaluma,  California. 

Commercial  Club,  Alex.  J.  McComb,  Pres.,  Reno,  Nevada. 

The  following  miscellaneous   organizations  appointed   delegates: 

California  Inland  Waterways  Committee,  A.  R.  Sprague.  Secy.,  Sacra- 
mento.  California. 

Manufacturers'  and  Producers'  Association  of  California,  Andrea  Sbarboro, 
Pres.,   San   Francisco,  California. 

American   Mining  Congress,  Jas.   F.   Callbreath  Jr..   Denver,   Colorado. 

American   Beet  Sugar  Association,  H.   T.   Oxnard,   Pres.,  Chicago,   111. 

Shipowners'  Association  of  the  Pacific  Coast.  Capt.  W.  H.  Marston,  Pres.. 
San  Francisco,  California. 

Lumber  Dealers'  Association,  of  Colorado  and  Wyoming,  O.  O.  Russell 
Greelev,  Pres.,  Colorado  Springs,  Colorado. 

Maritime   Association,   B.   Adon,   Pres..   Galveston,  Texas. 

Progressive  League.   F.   B.   Landers,   Pres.,  Victoria,   Texas. 

Southwest  Cattle  Raisers'  Association.   Ike  T.  Pryor.  Fort    Worth.  Texas. 

Pine  Manufacturers'  Association,  R.   Kendrick,   Pres.,   San   Francisco.  Calif. 

Canners'  League  of  California,  L.  F.  Graham.   Pres.,  San  Francisco,  Calif. 

Commercial  Travelers'  Association,  of  the  Pacific  Coast.  E.  N.  Clintsman, 
Scev..  San    Francisco,  California. 

Interstate  Inland  Waterways  (Texas).  C.  S.  E.  Holland.  Pres..  Victoria. 
Texas. 

California   Traffic   Association,   G.   J.   Bradley,   Pres..   San   Francisco.   Calif. 

Commercial  Travelers'  Association  (Golden  Gate  Association),  George 
Borchardt.  Pres.,  San  Francisco.  California. 

Travelers'  Protective  Association,  H.  R.  Basford.  Pres..  San  Francisco. 
( California. 

Manufacturers'  and  Merchants'  Association,  W.  T.  Bland.  Pres.,  Kansas 
City,  Missouri. 

Oregon  and  Washington  Manufacturers'  Association,  Phillip  Buehner,  Pres., 
Portland.  Oregon. 

San  Francisco  Clearing  House  Association,  Homer  S.  King,  Pres.,  San 
Francisco,   California. 

California  Miners'   Association,  W.   C.   Ralston.   Pres.,   San    Francisco.  Calif. 

American  National  Live  Stock  Association.  H.  A.  Jastro,  Bakersfield, 
California.   Pres.,   Denver,   Colorado. 


TRANS-MISSISSIPPI    COMMERCIAL    CONGRESS  265 

San  Francisco  Commercial  Travelers,  Otto  C.  Sievers,  Pres.,  San  Fran- 
cisco, California. 

"Water  and  Forest  Association  Arthur  R.  Briggs.  Pres.,  San  Francisco,  Calif. 

Pacific  Coast  Lumber  Manufacturers'  Association,  E.  G.  Griggs,  Pres., 
Tacoma,  Wash. 

Commercial    Travelers'    Congress,    O.    S.    Henderson,    Pres..    Stockton,    Calif. 

Dried  Fruit  Association  of  California,  A.  E.  Castle,  Pres.,  San  Francisco. 
California. 

Clearing  House  Association   of  Kansas  City.   Kansas  City.   Missouri. 

Lakes  to  the  Gulf  Deep  Waterway  Association,  Wm.  K.  Kavanaugh,  Pres., 
St.   Louis,  Missouri. 

Federation  of  Tree  Growing  Clubs,  Monterey,  California. 

Commercial  Travelers'  Congress,  O.  S.  Henderson,  Pres.,  San  Francisco, 
California. 

Improvement   Club,   Alameda,   California. 

Sacramento  Valley  Development  Association,  M.  Diggs,  Pres.,  Sacramento, 
California. 

California  Retail  Grocers'  Association,  Geo.  B.  Doyle,  Pres.,  San  Francisco, 
California. 

Sierra  Club,  John  Muir.  Pres.,  San  Francisco,  California. 

Boulder  Creek  Improvement  Association,  M.  E.  Hollanbeck,  Secy.,  Boulder 
Creek,  California. 

Real  Estate  Exchange.  W.  M.  Gardner.  Secy.,  Santa  Cruz,  California. 

California  Good  Roads  Association,  Chas.  D.  Daggett,  Pres.,  Pasadena, 
California. 

Siuslaw    Improvement   Club,    O.    W.    Hurd,    Pres.,    Florence,    Oregon. 

North  of  Bay  Counties  Association,  R.  Newton  Lynch,  Secy.,  Petaluma, 
California. 

Napa  County  Grape  Growers'  Association,  B.  Bruck,  St.  Helena,  California. 


DELEGATES    APPOINTED 


ARKANSAS. 


G.  A.  Hayes,  Texarkana. 

Geo.  J.  Gray.  Texarkana. 

F.  M.  Thompson,  Texarkana. 


Hon.  W.  T.  F.  Donald,  Phoenix. 


Hon.  John  J.  Boyee,  Juneau. 
Volney  V.  Hoggett,  Juneau. 


Hon.  Nathan  B.  Williams,  Fayetteville. 

Dr.   J.   L.   Butte,   Sheridan. 

Maj.  C.  R.  Breckenridge,  Fort  Smith. 


A1UZOXA. 


ALASKA. 


W.  H.  Metson.  Nome. 
J.  H.  Tarn,  Nome. 


CALIFORNIA. 


Alden  Anderson,  Sacramento. 

F.  B.  Adams,   San   Francisco. 
Judge  Jno.  R.  Aitkens,  San  Francisco. 
A.  H.  Ashlev,  Stockton. 

W.  L.  Ash,  Oakland. 
Charles    B.    Andross,    Marysville. 
Edson  F.  Adams,  Oakland. 
Lewis  E.  Aubury,  San  Francisco. 
Thomas   E.   Aitkenson,   San   Francisco 
L.   F.   Breunner,   Sacramento. 
Morris    Black,    San    Francisco. 

A.  D.  Bowen,  San  Francisco. 
S.  L.  Bright.  San  Francisco. 
Wakefield  Baker,   San   Francisco. 
E.   S.    Blasdel,    San   Francisco. 
TV.  D.  Buckley.  Stockton. 

R.  H.  Beamer,  Woodland. 
Col.  E.  B.  Bullock,  Alameda. 
Frank  L.  Brown,  San  Francisco. 
W.   A.   Beard,   Sacramento. 
R.  I.  Bentley,  San  Francisco. 

G.  J.  Bradley,  San  Francisco. 
E.  R.  Braden,  San  Francisco. 
E.   H.   Benjamin,   Oakland. 
Frank  A.  Brush,  Santa  Rosa. 
Cline   Bull,  Marysville. 

Arthur  R.  Briggs.  San  Francisco. 
L.  C.  Blochman.  Santa  Maria. 

B.  J.  Bither,  Berkeley. 
R.  M.  Briare.  Oakland. 

E.  A.   Bushell.  Oakland. 
A.    E.   Boynton,   Oroville. 
Eben  Boalt,  Oroville. 

R.  M.  Butler,  Napa. 

A.  Baccilieri,  Monte  Ca. 

F.  W.   Braun,  Los  Angeles. 
Fulton  G.  Berry,  Fresno. 
Joseph  F.  Brooks,  San  Jose. 
George  W.   Burton,  Los  Angeles. 
•  wprptt   N.   Bee,  San   Francisco. 
Gustave  Breuner,  San  Francisco. 
Charles  Bundschu.   San   Francisco. 
S.  F.  Booth,  San  Francisco. 

A.   A.   Baxter,   San   Francisco. 
E.  P.  Brinegar,  San  Francisco. 
H.  H.  Beeker.  San  Francisco. 
Leonard  Billings,  San  Francisco. 
Edward  Berwick.  Pacific  Grove. 
P.  J.  Beveridge.  Hollywood. 
W.   A.   Curtis,   Sacramento. 

C.  E.  Clinch,  Grass  Valley. 

C.   H.   Crocker,  San   Francisco. 
John  P.  Christensen,  San  Francisco. 
Prof.  S.  B.  Christy.   Berkeley. 
Thomas  Clark,  Placerville. 
C.  W.  Cross,  San  Francisco. 
C.  J.  Carley,  Lindsay. 


R.  F.  Cross.  Visalia. 

Joseph  Craig,  Woodland. 

Mrs.  M.  Lvnde  Craig,  Redlands. 

Col.  L.  P.  Crane,  Oakland. 

J.   H.  Clav,  Oakland. 

A.  F.  Connett,  Oakland. 
N.  B.  Crane,  Oroville. 
F.  L.  Coombs,  Napa. 

C.  P.  Conklin.  Napa. 
W.  H.  Cameron,  Napa. 
Robert  Corlett.  Napa. 

R.  H.  Collins,  San  Leandro. 
George  Crosby,  San  Leandro. 
M.  Nace  Clark,  Santa  Clara. 
Fletcher  L.  Cutler,  Eureka. 
Joshua   Cowell,  Monte  Ca. 

D,  W.  Carmichael.  Sacramento. 
Charles  Cunningham,  Sacramento. 
Judge  N.  P.  Chipman,  San  Francisco. 
J.  S.  Cannon,  San  Francisco. 

H.  E.  Cheesebrough,  San  Francisco. 
Henry  J.  Crocker,  San  Francisco. 
A   E.  Castle,  San  Francisco. 
James  P.  Currier,  San  Francisco. 
Geo.  B.  Conant,  San  Francisco. 
Geo.  W.  Cooley,  San  Bernardino. 
T.  H.  Cutler,  Eureka. 
S.  B.  Case,  Petaluma. 

F.  B.  Connally,  San  Francisco. 

B.  F.  McCullough.  Crows  Landing. 
Scott  F.  Ennos,  Sacramento. 

.1.  M.  Eddy,  Stockton. 

Edward  Everett,  San  Francisco. 

Miguel  Estudillo,  Riverside. 

J.   F.    Ellison,   Red   Bluff. 

Chas.  B.  Ellis,  Sacramento. 

Milton  H.  Esberg,  San  Francisco. 

Phineas  F.  Ferguson,  San  Francisco. 

G.  W.    Fenwick,  Samoa. 
Edward  A.  Forbes,   Marysville. 
J.   W.   Fewel.   Visalia. 

Frank  Freeman,  Willows. 

F.  R.  Finley,  Santa  Maria. 

F.  W.  Foss,  Berkelev. 

H.  F.  Fletcher,  Watsonville. 

Bernard  Faymonville,  San  Francisco. 

J.   A.   Folger,   San   Francisco. 

Chas.  S.  Fee,  San  Francisco. 

T.  C.  Friedlander.  San  Francisco. 

Edwin  Fernald,  San  Francisco. 

Frank  Gould,  San  Francisco. 

Wellington  Gregg,  San   Francisco. 

Wm.  L.  Gerstle.  San  Francisco. 

Hon.  James  H.  Gray.  San  Francisco. 

Harry  A.  Green.  Monterey. 

M.  A.  Gates.   Berkeley. 


TRANS-MISSISSIPPI    COMMERCIAL    CONGRESS 


267 


"Walter  G.  Mathewson,  San  Jose. 
George  W.  McNear  Jr.,  San  Francisco. 

E.  W.  Martin,  San  Francisco. 
Chas.  C.  Moore,  San  Francisco. 
W.  M.  Moore,  San  Francisco. 
Walter  McArthur,  San  Francisco. 
A.  E.  Manning-,  San  Francisco. 

F.  A.  McGunney,  San  Francisco. 
D.  B.  Nichols,  Dinuba. 

John  G.  North,  Riverside. 
L.  J.  Norton,  Napa. 
S.  H.  Olmstead,  San  Rafael. 
A.  R.  Orr,  "visalia. 
Henry  T.  Oxnard,  Oxnard. 
S.   Odenheimer,   New  Orleans. 
G-  B.  Ocheltree,  Berkeley. 
Frank  Otis,  Alameda. 
Dr.  E.  S.  O'Brien,  Merced. 
John   P.   Overton,  Santa  Rosa. 

G.  W.  Pierce,  Sacramento. 
H.  C.  Phillips,  Los  Angeles. 

Col.    Geo.    M.    Perrine,    San    Francisco. 

J.  P.  Pryor,  Pacific  Grove. 

Hon.  Geo.  C.  Perkins,  U.  S.  S. 

W.  Frank  Pierce,  San  Francisco. 

Geo.  W.  Peltier,  Sacramento. 

L.  H.  Pierson,  Sacramento. 

H.  W.   Postlewaite,   Sacramento. 

Warren   Porter,   Watsonville. 

Jesse  Poundstone,   Colusa. 

D.  A.  Proctor,  Oakland. 

Dr.  Geo.  C.   Pardee,  Oakland. 

S.  N.  Feldheim,  Oroville. 

Basil  Pryor,  Lindsay. 

W.  R.  Porter,  Watsonville. 

L.  H.  Pierson,  San  Francisco. 

C.  B.  Piatt,  San  Francisco. 

B.  Lewis  Phillips,  San  Francisco. 

S.  L.  Perry,  Santa  Barbara. 

W.  A.  Quigg,  Los  Angeles. 

L.  H.  Quatman,  San  Francisco. 

H.  L.  Ricks,  Eureka. 

A.  C.  Rulofson,  San  Francisco. 

Henry  Rosenthal,  Alameda. 

P.  C.  Rossi,  San  Francisco. 

T.  A.  Richmond,  San  Francisco. 

T.  A.  Rickard,  San  Francisco. 

P.  W.  Rochester,  Berkeley. 

R.  A.  Russell,  Alameda. 

H.  R.  Robinson,  Santa  Cruz. 

E.  S.  Rake,  San  Rafael. 
Chester  H.  Rowell,  Fresno. 
Frank  Romain,  Fresno. 

M.  H.   Robins  Jr.,  San  Francisco. 

James  Rolph   Jr.,  San   Francisco. 

Ed  Rodden,  Oakdale. 

G.  F.  Roberts,  Napa. 

William  Shaw,  Sacramento. 

A.  B.  Spreckels,  San  Francisco. 

Andrea  Sbarboro,   San   Francisco. 

Gen.  Geo.  Stone,  San  Francisco. 

James  Syson,  San  Francisco. 

A.  L.  Scott,  San  Francisco. 

Isouis    Schwabacher,    San    Francisco. 

Frank  H.  Short,  Fresno. 

Julian  Sontag,  San  Francisco. 

Sam  F.  Smith,  San  Diego. 

F.  J.  Solinsky,  San  Francisco. 
AV.    R.   Spaulding,   Visalia. 
W.  E.  Sprott,  Porterville. 

H.  R.  Stephens,  Exeter. 
S.  J.   Scott,  Visalia. 
Martin  Stillivan,  Marysville. 
A    R.  Sprague,  Sacramento. 
H.  P.  Stabler,  Yuba  City. 
James  M.  Spencer,  Orland. 


Sam  Skelley,  Alameda. 

Otto  D.  Stoesser,   Watsonville. 

L.  G.  Sinard,  Los  Minos. 

P.  Stoll,  Red  Bluff. 

A.  H.  Schlueter,  Oakland. 

T.  W.  Smyth,  Oakland. 

E.  C.  Sessions,  Oakland. 
Edwin   Stearns,   Oakland. 
J.  S.  Swan,  Merced. 

P.  G.  Sheey,  Watsonville. 

George  H.  Stewart,  Los  Angeles. 

Harvey  W.  Swift,  Fresno. 

J.  L.  Stoll,  San  Jose. 

P.  J.  Shields,  Sacramento. 

A.  W.  Scott  Jr.,  San  Francisco. 
Frank  J.  Symmes,  San  Francisco. 
Robert  H.  Swayne,  San  Francisco. 
Miles  Standish,  San  Francisco. 
Craigie  Sharp,  San   Francisco. 
Paul  Shoup,  San  Francisco. 
George  Uhl,  San  Francisco. 

G.  C.  Van  Nest,  Los  Angeles. 

F.  W.  Van   Sicklen,  Alameda. 
W.  L.  Wright,  Pomona. 

Walter  D.  Wagner,  San  Francisco. 
Frank  A.  West,  Stockton. 
C.  D.  Willard,  Los  Angeles. 
John  D.  Wilson,  San  Francisco. 
Leroy  A.   Wright.  San  Francisco. 
Charles  M.  Woods,  San  Francisco. 

B.  F.  Walton,  Yuba  City. 
Lawrence    Wilson,    Winters. 

C.  F.   Wieland,  Berkeley. 
W.  C.  Woolsey,  Berkeley. 

B.  L.  Wilhite,  Holtville. 
Wilbur   Walker,   Oakland. 
H.  G.  Williams,  Oakland. 
F.  J.  White,  Oakland. 

A.  Wise,  Oroville. 

Charles  Wier,  Los  Angeles. 

H.  S.  Gans,  Red  Bluff. 

John  E.  Gardner,  Watsonville. 

Gov.  J.  J.  Gosper,  Los  Angeles. 

W.  J.  Gray,  San  Francisco. 

D.  J.  Guggenhime,  San  Francisco. 
Gerald  R.  Gumley,  San  Francisco. 
Dr.  W.  Gross,  Eureka. 

J.  R.  Goldsmith,  San  Francisco. 
Irvin  D.  Gibson,  San  Francisco. 
James  W.  Grant,  San  Francisco. 
H.   A.   Green,   Monterey. 
Thomas  B.  Hall,  San  Francisco. 
Chas.  S.  Hendry,  San  Francisco. 
J.   Downey  Harvey,   San  Francisco. 
W.   Haas,   San   Francisco. 
William  F.  Herrin,  San  Francisco. 

C.  A.  Hooper,  San  Francisco. 
Abe  Haas,   San   Francisco. 
M.   B.   Harris,   Fresno. 

H.   Hochheimer,    Willows. 
Wm.   Hammond  Jr.,  Alameda. 
H.  Hauch,  Alameda. 

E.  P.   Heald,  San   Francisco. 

A.  J.  Hechtman,  San  Francisco. 

Louis  A.  Hicks,  San  Francisco. 

John  Hyde,  Visalia. 

W.  A.   Hackley,   Berkeley. 

N.  C.  Hawks,  Alameda. 

W.  P.  Hammond,  Oroville. 

Rev.  Francis  Hope,  Santa  Clara. 

Geo.  Henderson,  Eureka. 

P.  P.  Howard,  San  Rafael. 

Hon.  E.  A.  Hayes,  M.  C,  San  Jose. 

W.  E.  Howard,  Los  Angeles. 

J.  B.  Hollohan,  Watsonville. 

A.  L.  Hobbs,  Fresno. 


268 


REPORT    OP    PROCEEDINGS 


Geo.  Howes,  San  Jose. 

Guy  P.  Hull,  Redwood. 

Rev.  E.  J.  Harper,  Los  Angeles. 

Dr.   C.   W.    Hibbard,   Los  Angeles. 

P.  J.   Harney,  Sacramento. 

Col.   F'liilo   Hersey,   San  Jose. 

Capt.  I.  N.   Hibberd,  San  Francisco. 

Matl    Harris,  San   Francisco. 

\V.  A.  Hewitt,  San  Francisco. 

AV.   H.   Hankin.   San   Francisco. 

Alexander  Mackey,   Alameda. 

B.  Hirsehberg.  San   Francisco. 
John   P.   Irish  Jr.,  Oakland. 

Col.  John   P.   Irish,  San   Francisco. 

W.    D.    Irving.   Auburn. 

H.  W.  Jackson.  Korbel. 

Capt.  Jacob  Jensen,  San  Francisco. 

Isidor  Jacobs,  San  Francisco. 

J.   Sub  Johnson,  Visalia. 

C.  C.  Juster,  Berkeley. 
H.  R.  Judah,  Santa  Cruz. 
James  H.  Jones,  Chico. 
A.  N.  Judd,  Watsonville. 
James  M.  Mannon,  Ukiah. 
Frank  W.  Johnson,  San  Francisco. 
E.  E.  Jacobi.  San  Francisco. 

Fred  J.   Koster,  San  Francisco. 
Col.  W.  I...  Killingsworth,  Vacaville. 
H.  C.   Kellogg.  Santa  Ana. 
G.  J.   King.   Red   Bluff. 

A.  F.   Killiam.   Santa  Clara. 

Hon.  Julius  Kahn,  M.  C,  San  Francisco. 
Mathews   Koshaland,  San  Francisco. 
John  W.  King,  San  Francisco. 

D.  A.   Linaley,   Sacramento. 
K.  Newton  Lynch,  Petaluma. 

E.  R.   Lilienthal,  San   Francisco. 
Frank  Leppo,  Santa  Rosa. 

O.  F.  Leppo,  Santa  Rosa. 

J.  B.  Lippincott,  Los  Angeles. 

B.  F.  Lynip.  Alturas. 

M.  J.  Laymance.  Oakland. 

W.  E.  Landram.  Merced. 

Prof.  Edgar  L.  Larkin,  Los  Angeles. 

H.   W.  Lake,   San  Jose. 

Col.  H.  D.  Loveland,  San  Francisco. 

\V.    B.   Lardner,   Auburn. 

G.   R.  Lumley,  Porterville. 

P.  I.  Lancast.-r.    Willitts. 

Cosmo  Morgan,  Los  Angeles. 


Col.  F.  W.  Marstom,  San  Francisco. 
A.  F.  Morrison,  San  Francisco. 
James  McNab,  San  Francisco. 
Julian  Manheim,  San   Diego. 

D.  W.  McKenzie.   San   Diego. 

M.  Hall  McAllister,  San  Francisco. 
Capt.  W.  H.  Marston.  San  Francisco. 
Frank  W.  Marvin.  San  Francisco. 
William  McCracken.  San  Francisco. 
J.  K.  Moffitt,  San  Francisco. 
J.   S.  Moulton,   Ripon. 
P.  J.  S.  Montgomery,  Tulare. 
A.  E.  Miot,  Visalia. 
Ben   M.  Maddox,  Visalia. 
W.  F.  Morrisey,  Orland. 
S.  Mitchell,  Visalia. 
H.   P.   Myer,   Holtville. 
Greene  Majors,  Oakland. 
Geo.  A.  Montell,  Santa  Cruz. 
Duncan  McPherson.  Santa  Cruz. 
F.    L.    Moore.    Merced. 
J.  S.  Montgomery.  Merced. 
P.  W.  Mathews,  Eureka. 
J.  J.   Morrey.  Watsonville. 
Dwight  H.  Miller,  Sacramento. 
Chas.  J.  Moore,  San  Jose. 
W.  D.  Aulhite,  Ukiah. 
H.  H.  Welch.  Fresno. 
Andrew  D.  WTalsh,  Redwood. 

C.  M.  Wooster.  San  Francisco. 
Geo.  X.  Wendling,  San  Francisco. 

E.  K.   Wood.  San   Francisco. 
A.  A.  Watkins,  San  Francisco. 
L.  J.  Wheeler,  St.  Helena. 

A.  J.  Wallace,  Los  Angeles. 
Chas.  G.  Yale,  San  Francisco. 

E.  A.   Young,   Oakland. 

P.  H.  Yeckley,  San   Francisco. 
Isidor  Zellerbach.   San   Francisco. 

D.  E.   Skinner,   San   Francisco. 

F.  A.  Somers,  San  Francisco. 
Jacob   Stearn.   San  Francisco. 
L.  W.  Storror,  San  Francisco. 
I.  W.  Smith,  San  Francisco. 
Horatio  J.  Stoll,  San  Francisco. 
R.  E.   Starr,   San   Francisco. 

J.  M.   Sullivan.  San  Francisco. 
Jas.  A.  Stulz,  San  Francisco. 
Lyman  B.  Byce.  Petaluma. 
F.    K.   Beard,  Modesto. 
J.  B.   Broughton,  Modesto. 


COLORADO, 


Hon.  Jesse   F.  McDonald,   Leadville. 

James    II.    Peabody,   Canon   City. 

I.  X.  Stevens,  Denver. 

Wm.    H.    Dickson,    Denver. 

J.  F.  Chamberlain,  Denver. 

Meyer  Freldman,  Denver. 

Robt.   11.  Speer,  Denver. 

Crawford   1 1  ii I.   I  >enver. 

Frank  O.  Goudy,  Denver. 

Hon.  Thomas  P.   Walsh,  Denver. 

Aa  n>n  i  Jove.    I  »en  ver. 

James  F.  Callbreath,  Denver. 

Arthur    F.    Francis,   ("ripple   Creek. 

Charles  S.  Thomas.    Denver. 

Alva   Adams.   Pueblo. 

John    F.   Sha  trot  h,    I  >en ver. 

Geo.  F.  Frv.  Cripple  ('reek. 

J.  M.  Wright,  Cripple  Creek. 

I  >.  ( '.   Beaman,  I  >enver. 

F.   A.    Williams,    I  >en  ver. 

Hugh  O'Neil,  Denver. 

Robt.  Gauss,  Denver. 


T.   C.   Hendry.   Denver. 
N.   M.  Tabor,  Denver. 
Chas.   A.   Stokes.   Denver. 
A.  Blackmer,  Fort  Collins. 
Homer  Hay  ward.   Fort  Morgan. 
.1  iu>.   F.   Rice,  Ouray. 
Clinton   Briggs,  Canon  City. 
L.  W.  Markham.  Lamar. 
A.   A.    Moody,    Fort   Collins. 
August    L.   Rohling,   Fort   Collins.       " 
Frank    Loveland,  Loveland. 
Wm.  Krouskop.  Loveland. 
John    Bunyan,    Berthoud. 
Arthur   I'".   Brown,  Berthoud. 
W.  H.  McCormack,  Berthoud. 
Guy   U.    Hardy,   Canon    City. 
10.  ( '.    I  lowe,    1  >enver. 
Dall   DeWeese,  Canon   City. 
James    \\.   Grant,    Denver. 
<;.    W.    Ballentine,   Denver. 
Henry        Russell        Wray,        Colorado 
Springs. 


TRANS-MISSISSIPPI    COMMERCIAL    CONGRESS 


269 


Thomas  J.  Fisher,  Colorado  Springs. 

C.  B.   Goddard,  Sterling. 
J.  N.  Beaty,  Manzanola. 

D.  W.  Aupperle,  Grand  Junction. 
I.  N.  Bunnting,  Grand  Junction. 
G.  E.  Hosmer,  Fort  Morgan. 

W.   M.   Jamieson,   Trinidad. 

Thomas  J.  Stanley,  Manzanola. 

John  Reiley,  Fowler. 

James  A.   Lockhart,   Rocky  Ford. 

O.   B.   Wilcox,  Colorado   Springs. 

W.   H.   Freeman,   Denver. 

Albert  B.  Sanford,  Denver. 

James    F.    Callbreath   Jr.,    Denver. 

Mrs.  Chas.  H.  Townsend,  Denver. 

Chas.  N.  Miller,  Denver. 

H.  O.  Temple,  Denver. 

John   E.  Phillips,  Denver. 

H.  Bvrd,  Northrup. 

M.  C.  Larkin,  Denver. 

Henry  Maxwell,  Rocky  Ford. 

James  McNeen,  La  Junta. 

George   Barr,  La  Junta. 

George  Kilgore,  La  Junta. 

M.   H.   Murray,   Los   Animas. 

P.  G.  Scott,  Los  Animas. 

Jno.  J.  Cooper,  Los  Animas. 

W.  C.  Gould,  Lamar. 

Mortin   Strain,  Lamar. 

H    C.  Van  Diest,  Colorado  Springs. 

A.    B.    Williams,    Colorado    Springs. 

Sherwood  Aldrich,  Colorado  Springs. 

F.  F.  Wulff,  Colorado  Springs. 


Charles  Eye,  Colorado  Springs. 

W.  W.  Williamson,  Colorado  Springs. 

F.   L.    Rouse.    Colorado    Springs. 

J.  R.  McKinnie,  Colorado  Springs. 

R.  M.  McMillam,  Colorado  Springs. 

Hon.   Irving   Howbert,    Colorado 

Springs. 
R.  P.  Davie,  Colorado  Springs. 
A.  G.  Eppler,  Colorado  Springs. 
J.    H.    Murphy,    Colorado    Springs. 
Geo.  Elstun.  'Colorado  Springs. 
Edgar  J.  Ullrich,  Colorado  Springs. 
Sherwood  Aldrich,    Colorado   Springs. 
Chas.  O'Connor,  Cripple  Creek. 
Harry   Hospitalier,    Cripple    Creek. 
L.  A.  Eddy,  Cripple  Creek. 
C.  H.  Polland,  Manitou. 
Samuel  F.  Dutton,  Denver. 
Wm.  H.  Griffith.  Denver. 
Alfred  Kearns,  Denver. 
E.  L.  Sholtz,  Denver. 
W.  F.  R.  Mills.  Denver. 
Hiram  E.   Hilts.  Denver. 
Fred    J.  Chamberlain.   Denver. 
J.  W.  Shackelford,  Denver. 
Miss  Cora  M.  Peabody,  Canon  City. 
Herbert   George,   Denver. 
Mrs.    Sam    Dutton,    Denver. 
W.   L.   Dickson,   Denver. 
John    McDonough,    Denver. 
C   F.    Freland,    Denver. 
Geo.  M.  "Van  Law,  Denver. 


James  P.  Morgan,  Honolulu. 
V.    L.    Tenney,    Honolulu. 
F.  W.   Smith,   Honolulu. 
Mark  Green,  Honolulu. 
J.  F.  Morgan,  Honolulu. 
L.   E.   Pinkham,  Honolulu. 
C.   J.   Hutchins,   Honolulu. 


E.  H.  Dewey,  Nampa, 

F.  A.  David,  Moscow. 
Walter  Hoge,  Paris. 
Fred  W.  Jordan,  Gooding. 


Levi  Baker,  Shenandoah. 

Robert  Hunter,  Sioux  City. 

H.  McCartney,   Thurman. 

W.  F.  Baker,  Council  Bluffs. 

W.  D.  Lamb,  Northwood. 

W.  G.   Schaffer,  New  Hampton. 

A.  S.  Woods,  Fonda. 

Hon.  S.  A.  Conerse,  Cresco. 

Ed  Evans,  Osage. 

G.  L.  Tremain,  Humboldt. 

H.   D.   Close,   Norwood. 

Sherman  Rath,  Ackley. 

Arthur   Whea,    Swea   City. 

C.  J.   Lenander,   Bancroft. 


Hon    P.  T.  Goebel,  Kansas  City. 

Charles   F.    Gleed,   Topeka. 

Arthur  Capper,  Topeka. 

David  Hanna,  Hill  City. 

J.  W.  Creech,  Hill  City. 

L.   L.   Northrup,  Iola. 

H.  B.  Miller,  Osage  City. 

George    Barker,    Lawrence. 

J.    L.    Brady,    Lawrence. 


HAWAII. 

J.  F.  Humburg.   Honolulu. 
Geo.  M.   Rolph  Jr.,  Honolulu. 
J.   M.   O'Brien,   Honolulu. 

E.  B.  McClanahan,  Honolulu. 
O.  G.  Traphagen,  Honolulu. 

F.  Lynch,  Honolulu. 


IDAHO. 

Ralph  Edmunds,  Idaho  Falls. 
J.  T.  Torney,  Moscow. 
S.  J.  Sharp,  Boise. 


IOWA. 

Ed  Lundy,  Eldora. 
•  E.  B.  Wells,  Marathan. 
V.  E.  Bute,  Shenandoah. 
Hon.  Geo.  E.  MacLean,  Iowa  City. 
C.  F.  Lovelace,  Iowa  City. 
S    W.  Mercer.  Iowa  City. 
James  L.  Kennedy,  Sioux  City. 
Geo.  Call,  Sioux  City. 
Hon    T.  J.  Brooks,  Council  Blufts. 
Alex  Wood,  Council  Bluffs. 
Col.  W.  F.  Baker,  Council  Bluffs. 
Victor  E.  Bender,  Council  Bluffs. 
J.  F.  Wilcox,  Council  Bluffs. 


KANSAS. 

R.    L.   Brock,   Manhattan. 

C.  M.  Harger,   Abilene. 

Albert   Sarbauch,   Holton. 

Henry    Allen,    Wichita. 

H.    D.   Lee,   Salina. 

John    Seaton,    Atchison. 

L.    A.    Bigger,     Atchison. 

H    E.   Burkholder,  McPherson. 


270 


REPORT    OF    PROCEEDINGS 


Z.  G.    Hopkins.    Wellington. 

A.   C.    Jobes,    Wichita. 

Prank    Crowell,    Atchison. 

Dr.   T.   C.    Frazier,   Coffeyville. 

Hon.   Grant   Honaday,  Fort  Scott. 

Hon.    Russell    J.    Harrison,    Selden. 

E.   R.   Moses,  Great  Bend. 

I  Inn.    E.    F.   Davison,  Peabody. 

Mel    Wilhite,    Emporia. 

lion.    C.    H.    Morrow,    Washington. 

Hon.  Fred  H.  Quincy,  Salina. 


E.  L.    Meyer.    Hutchinson. 
W.   V.  Morgan,  Hutchinson. 
J.    W.    Brown,    Hutchinson. 
R.    M.    White,   Abilene. 

F.  B.   Glimpse,  Abilene. 
B.   F.   Landis,   Abilene. 
John    Dudley,   Kansas   City. 
Al    Adams,    Cedervale. 

M,    C.    Campbell.    Wichita. 
Hon.  C.  L.  Davidson,  Wichita. 
W.  H.   Mitchell,   Belolt. 


LOUISIANA. 


S.  Locke  Breaux,  New  Orleans. 
Warren    B.    Reed.   C.    E.   New  Orleans. 
E.    P.    Munson,  Napoleonville. 

Walter    Y.    Kemper,    Franklin. 
R.    W.    Sims,   Donaldsonville. 
I-:.  A.  Pharr.  Morgan  City. 
Walter    J.    Burke,    New   Iberia. 
C.  C.  Duson,  Crowley. 
Dr.    L.   H.   Jastromski. 
R.  Krause,  Lake  Charles. 

B.  M.  Bryan,  Alexandria. 
A.  \'.  Xeilson,  Alexandria. 
A.   Bauer,   Alexandria. 

J.  D.  Bonin,  Gueydan. 

C.  If.   Ellis.   New  Orleans. 
Jules  C.  Koenig,  New  Orleans. 
W.   P.   Luck,  New  Orleans. 


M.    J.    Sanders,    New   Orleans. 
R.   R.   H.  Tate,  New  Orleans. 
C.  T.  Patterson,  New  Orleans. 
Jos.    H.    DeGrange,   New   Orleans. 
S.    Odenheimer,    New    Orleans. 
Hon.  Jas,  M.  Welch,  Cameron. 
Hon.  J.  W.  Freeman,  Natchitoches. 
Peter    Youree,    Shreveport. 
S.  B.  Hicks,  Shreveport. 
Abe  Meyer,   Shreveport. 
Louis  Heilperin,  Shreveport. 
M.  F.  Taylor,  Shreveport. 
David   Weitler,   Shreveport. 
S.  H.   Bollinger,  Shreveport. 
S.  F.  Steere,  Shreveport. 
Dr.    w.   W.    Galliard,  Donaldsonville. 
W.   O.   Hart,  New  Orleans. 


MONTANA. 


Sid.  J.  Coffee,  Missoula. 
P.  M.    Reilly,  Missoula. 
Sam  Gordon,  Miles  City. 
Ralph   Dutch,  Melrose. 
J.    T.    Truescott,    Glasgow. 
H.  J.  Barleigh,  Plaina. 
T.   N.   Averill,  Townsend. 
J.  P.  Meloy,  Townsend. 
Sam  Alexander,  Helena. 
James  Deering,  Helena. 
D.  R.  Roach,  Anaconda. 
F.   H.   Clinton,  Anaconda. 
T.  J.  Johns,  Forsyth. 
Hairy   Yeager,  Lewiston. 
Roy  E.  Ayres,  Lewiston. 
D.  R.  Peeler,  Kalispell. 
W.   H.   Bronnan,  Kalispell. 
Ernest  Heilman,  Bozeman. 


C.  E.  Miller,  Wisdom. 

Frank  Eliel,  Dilton. 

J.   W.   Morton,   Dilton. 

J.  H.  Dullea,  Twin  Bridges. 

Gordon  Shafer,  Moore. 

Andrew  Anderson,  Harlowton. 

Ray  S.  Conger,  Thompson  Falls. 

Amos  Hall,  Butte. 

Nesbit  Rochester,  Butte. 

C.  M.  Crutchfleld,  Hamilton. 

R.  A.  O'Hara,  Hamilton. 

J.  R.  Faulds,  Libbey. 

Dr.  A.  I.  Leighton,  Boulder. 

C.  N.  Virion,  Twin  Bridges. 
I  )a  n   .Morrison,   Whiteha  II. 

D.  R.  Peeley,  Helena. 

J.  H.  Strain,  Anaconda. 
Herbert  Strain,  Great  Falls. 


MISSOURI. 


lion.  John   W.  Noble,  St.  Louis. 
A.    B.    Cockerill,    Nevada. 
O.  H.  Dean.   Kansas  City. 
Hon.  Jay  ll.  Neff,  Kansas  City. 
James  L.  Lombard,  Kansas  City. 
II. m.    I..    A.    Vories,  St.  Joseph. 
Judge   W.   I..  <  'ulver,  Gower. 
W.    I,.    Townsend,   Festus. 
lion.    Web.   M.    Rubey,  Macon. 

.M.   I.,   w I.   Palmyra. 

Win.  S.  Catron,  Neosho. 
Lee    Montgomery.    Sedalia. 
T.   J.    Means   Jr.,    Dearborn. 
E.  B.  Pryor,  St.   Louis. 
A.  G.  Cochrane,  St.  Louis. 
Breckenridge  Jones,   St.   Louis. 


Alfred    Clifford,    St.    Louis. 
Ben  F.    Edwards,   St.   Louis. 
J.    H.    McCluney,   St.    Louis. 
A.  J.   Davidson,  St.  Louis. 
Robert    MeK.    Jones,    St.    Louis. 
Robert   Moore,   St.   Louis. 
W.    K.    ECavanaugh,   Si.  Louis. 
A.  J.  Bundschu.   Independence, 
Prank    X.    Devorss,   St.   Joseph. 
A.  B.   Weakley,  St.  Joseph, 
Christ  Neipp,  St.  Joseph. 
O.  P.  Newman,  St.  Joseph. 
Tom   P.   Holland,   St.   Joseph. 
Stoughton     Walker.    St.    Joseph. 

T.   B.  Campbell,   St.   Joseph. 
Chas.   Wilson,   St.   Joseph. 


TRANS-MISSISSIPPI    COMMERCIAL    CONGRESS 


271 


Adolph   Goerman,   St.   Joseph. 

A.  W.   Kohler,   St.  Joseph. 

M.  E.   Leming,   Cape  Girardeau. 

M.   D.   Wilson,   Cape   Girardeau. 

James    A.    Johnston,    Poplar    Bluff. 

A.   H.   Waite,   Joplin. 

C.    Schufferdeeker,    Joplin. 

C.  S.  Poole,  Joplin.     . 
Rice  Hunt,   Joplin. 
Henry    Weymann.    Joplin. 
Z.  H.  Lowdermilk.  Joplin. 
Cady   Kline,   Joplin. 

F.  K.    Dunwoody,   Joplin. 
John  Malang,   Joplin. 

A.    P.    Clark,   Joplin. 
E.  L.  Scarrett,  Kansas  City. 
Fred  W.    Fleming',   Kansas   City. 
Henry  J.  Gabel,  Kansas  City. 

G.  R.    Russell,    Kansas   City. 
R.    E.   Goodlett,   Kansas   City. 

D.  L.   Burnside,   Poplar  Bluff. 
C.   S.  Jobes,   Kansas  City. 
Lee   Hillis,    Kansas    City. 

E.  W.   McManus,   Kansas  City. 
Joseph   Meinrach,   Kansas   City. 
W.   T.   Bland,    Kansas   City. 

P.   S.   Brown   Jr.,   Kansas   City. 


Thomas  B.   Tomb,   Kansas  City. 
Geo.    F.    Winter,   Kansas    City.' 
Walton  N.  Moore,  Kansas  City. 
J.  A.  Runyan,  Kansas  City. 
Walter  J.   Bates,  Kansas  City. 
Geo.  B.   Harrison,   Kansas   City. 
Col.  C.  Lechtman,   Kansas  City. 
Justin  A.  Runyan,  Kansas  City. 
D.  J.  Dean,  Kansas  City. 
Wm.   J.   Knepp,   Kansas   City. 
Ford  Heim,  Kansas  City. 
Ed   E.   Yates,    Kansas   City. 
Samuel   N.    Lee,    Kansas   City. 
James   A.   Reed,    Kansas   City. 
James    Halpin,    Kansas    City. 
Joseph  B.   Shannon,   Kansas  City. 
Frank  P.  Welsh,  Kansas  City. 
M.  M.  Sweetman,  Kansas  City. 
H.  B.  Topping-,  Kansas  City. 
W.   H.   Winants.   Kansas   City. 
O.  V.   Wilson,  Kansas   City. 
Robert  L.   Winter,   Kansas  City. 
J.   A.   Harzfeld,    Kansas   City. 
S.   B.  Ladd,  Kansas  City. 
Alfred   Benjamin,  Kansas   City. 
B.  D.  Ransom,  Kansas   City. 


G.    B.    Ward,   Alexandria. 
Julius  J.  Reiter,  Rochester. 
C.  L.  Mosher,  St.  Paul. 
E.   J.   Westlake,   Minneapolis. 
T.   F.  Murphy,  Little  Falls. 
W.   C.   Webber,   Rochester. 
Jno.  W.   Lux,  St.   Paul. 
Thomas   Vogeli,    Minneapolis. 
O.    K.   Simmons,   Duluth. 


MIWESOTA. 

C.  P.  Stine,  St.  Paul. 
Vernon    Wilder,    Red    Wing. 
B.   W.  Brawley,   St.  Paul. 
H.   V.   Eva,   Duluth. 
Solomon  Sax,   Eveleth. 
B.  M.   Neill,  Red  Wing. 
F.   W.   Murphy,  Wheaton. 
James   Bixby,   St.   Paul. 


L.    Bradford    Prince,    Santa    Fe. 
W.   D.   Murray.    Silver   City. 

D.  A.   MacPherson,   Albuquerque. 
George    Arnot,    Albuquerque. 

R.   E.    TwitChell,   Las  Vegas. 

E.  W.    Fox,    Clayton. 
J.    W.    Bible,    Hanover. 
C.   N.  Cotton,   Gallup. 
H.    B.    Torrill,    Clovis. 

A.   B.   Hilton,   San  Antonio. 


MEXICO. 

James   F.  Hinkle,  Rosewell. 
E.    V.    Shavoz,    Albuquerque. 
H.    O.    Chadbourne,   Albuquerque. 
W.   Fleming  Jones,  Las  Cruces. 
Paul   Hayer,   White   Oaks. 
R.   N.   Pierce,  Alamogordo. 
Alejandro    Sandoval,    Bernatillo. 
Isidor  Armijo,  Las  Cruces. 
C.  W.  Dudrom,   Santa  Fe. 
J.  B.  Duffy,  Santa  Fe. 


Alfred   Chartz.    Carson   City. 

W.  B.  Graham,  Ely. 

Chas.  B.   Henderson,  Elko. 

Key  Pittman,   Tonopah. 

Fred  Dangberg,  Minden. 

Lem    Allen,    Fallon. 

E.    A.    Dueker,    Wfinnemucca. 


\EVADA. 

P.    F.    Carney,    Goldfield. 
Col.  H.   B.  Maxson,  Reno. 
C.   L.   Dignowitz,   Reno. 
Oscar  J.  Smith,  Reno. 
E.   L.   Bride,  Reno. 
B.  J.  C'oans,  Reno. 
J.  W.  Waterhouse. 

NEBRASKA. 


W.   J.   Evans,   Ogallala. 

J.    M.    Guild,   Omaha. 

W.   S.   Whittier,   Lincoln. 

Henry  T.   Clark   Sr.,   Omaha. 

I.   L.    Dermond,   Beaver   Crossing. 

Ed  S.  Miller.   Beatrice. 

L.  P.   Powers,   Beatrice. 

James  Anderson,   Central  City. 

J.   E.  Miller,   Seward. 

J.   F.   Hanson,  Fremont. 


Chas.  Gregg,  Kearney. 

S.  N.  Wolbach,  Grand  Island. 

David  Anderson,   South   Omaha. 

A.   H.   Broke,   Hastings. 

Col.  C.   J.   Miles,   Hastings. 

G.   A.   Millett.   Van    (Miller  County). 

J.   R.   Van    Boskirk,   Newport. 

Thomas  Killian,  Wahoo. 

Jno.   R.   Van  Boskirk,   Newport. 


272 


REPORT    OF    PROCEEDINGS 


NORTH    DAKOTA. 


H.   C.   Plumley,   Fargo. 
Edw.  Cole,  Fargo. 
E.  C.   Emednn,   Fargo. 
E.  H.  Lander,  Grand  Forks. 
Jerry   Bacon.   Grand   Forks. 
A.    E.    Sanders,   Grand   Forks. 
W.  E.  Fuller,  Grand  Forks. 
E.   O.   Moore,   Drayton. 
Grant    Hager,    Drayton. 
C.  M.  Fislier.   Devils  Lake. 
Edgar    La    Rue.    Devils   Lake. 
Clark   Kelley.    Devils  Lake. 
Thomas  J.   Baird,  Lakota. 
Chas.  M.  Doyon,  Doyon. 
E.    P.    Sanderson,   Valley   City. 
H.    F.    Arnold,   Larimore. 


Anthony   Stonehouse,  Larimore. 
Edward  Luton.  Larimore. 
Thomas  E.  Regan,  Larimore. 
N.   G.   Larimore,   Larimore. 
Th.  ii.   Haugeberg,   Washburn. 
Walter   Parkin,  Mandan. 
W.    A.    Lanterman,   Mandan. 
E.    A.    "Williams,    Bismarck. 
J.   P.  Nelson,  Glen  Ullin. 
John   Bruegger,   Williston. 
I.   Rovig.  Underwood. 
R.  D.  Ward.   Emmett. 
Walter   Graham.    Wilton. 
Ralph    W.    Anderson,    Wilton. 
Ole   Surremgard,   Devils   Lake. 


OKLAHOMA. 


Hon.    Geo.    A.    Mansfield,    McAlester. 
Jay   F.  Price,  Keota. 
Ernest   Sharp.   El   Reno. 
Frank   Rieksey.   El   Reno. 
Fred   Wright.   El  Reno. 
Hon.  C.  D.  Carter,  Ardmore. 
Major  W.  M.  Bamberge.  Ardmore. 
H.   G.   Spaulding,  Ardmore. 
R.  M.  Bressie,  Bressie. 

C.  K.  Luce,  Woodward. 

D.  P.    Marum.    Woodward. 
C.  W.  Porter.   Muskogee. 
A.   C.   Trumbo,   Muskogee. 
Mrs.  A.   C.  Trumbo,   Muskogee. 
W.  R.  Robinson,  Muskogee. 
Simon   Gavigan,  Muskogee. 
Dana  H.    Kelsey,   Muskogee. 
H.  C.   Fearnside,  Muskogee. 

A.  A.  Davidson,  Muskogee. 
John  Evans,  Muskogee. 
Rev.    Asa  P.   Beall,   Muskogee. 
Cass   M.    Bradley,   Muskogee. 

E.  < '.   Alley.   Muskogee. 


David   P.   Hall,  Muskogee. 

P.  J.   Byrne,  Muskogee. 

Jack   Evans.   Muskogee. 

Z.  T.  Walrond.  Muskogee. 

H.  A.   Fitts,   Muskogee. 

A.    G.    Coppenbarger,    Muskogee. 

Charles    Bagg,   Muskogee. 

J.   Beutelspacher,   Muskogee. 

W.    D.    Brewer,   Muskogee. 

F.  J.  Hellinghausen,  Muskogee. 

E.    R.   Rulison.   Muskogee. 

J.  L.   Dabbs,  Muskogee. 

A.  Z.  English,  Muskogee. 

B.  B.   Wheeler,   Muskogee. 
W.   S.  Harsha.   Muskogee. 
Levi  Aekley,  Muskogee. 
R.   L.   Baugh.   Muskogee. 
E.  H.  Bispham,  Muskogee. 

A.    A.   Aylesworth,   Muskogee. 
George   Tyler   Bigelow,    Muskogee. 
Jno.   O.    Mitchell,    Tulsa. 
J.   G.  McGannon,   Tulsa. 


OR  KG  OX. 


John   Harlog.   Eugene. 

Dr.   D.  A.  Pame,  Eugene. 

Julian    Byrd,   Burns. 

.1.   T.  Donnolly,  Baker  City. 

X.  Ewd.  Imhaus,  Baker  City. 

R.   L.   Harris,  Dayton. 

Matt    Wilheim,   Monroe. 

Win.    Wurzweiker,    Princeville. 

Will  Wright,  Union. 

D.  J.  Truber.  Hood  River. 
T.  R.  Sheridan,  Roseburg. 
A.  .1.  Sherwood,  Coquille. 
W.  D.  Staats,  Des  Chutes. 
J.  F.  Stewart.  Toledo. 

R.  B.   Stanlield.   Echo. 
G.   N.   Crossfield,   Wasco. 
( 'has.   X.   Chance.   Similiter, 
George   <  Ohn,   Tillamook. 
.1      p.    Hill,    Pendleton. 
Monte   B.  Gwinn,   Pendleton. 
.1.    K.   Flanagan,  Marshfield. 
Peter  Loggie,  North  Bend. 

E.  Hot,  r,    Salem. 

I..    !•'.    Simpson.    North   Bend. 
Geo.    F.    Rogers,   Salem. 
Herman    Wlce,   Astoria. 
J.    II.    Whvte,   Astoria. 


J.  W.  Bennett,  Marshfield. 

A.  W.  Cauthorn,  Portland. 

Dr.   C.  W.   Cornelius,   Portland. 
Dr.  H.  F.   McKay.  Portland. 

B.  Lee  Paget.  Portland. 
I.   H.   Amos,    Portland. 
W.   M.  J. add.  Portland. 
Tom    Richardson,    Portland. 
M.   F.   Henderson,  Portland. 

E.  I..  Thompson,   Portland. 
H.  E.  Alheii.   Portland. 

M.   J.    Roche.    Portland. 

R.  A.  Harris.  Portland. 

Alex  Martin  Jr..    Klamath  Falls. 

Wm.   Grimes.    Marshfield. 

In.    E.    E.    Straw.    Marshfield. 

F.  H.  Clark.  Marshfield. 

Dr.  C.  W.  Tower.   Marshfield. 
Dr.    J.    T.    McCormaek,    Marshfield. 
lion.  p.  m.  Veatch,  Cottage  Grove. 
s.    p.    Kline,  Corvallis. 
Walter    Lynn,    Marshfield. 

G.  A.  Smith.  Marshfield. 
Henrv  Diere.  North  Bend. 
J.  H.  Keating.  North  Bend. 
("has.   Crogster.   Portland. 
Geo.  S.  Cornwall,  Portland. 


TRANS-MISSISSIPPI    COMMERCIAL    CONGRESS 


173 


Joseph   N.   Teal,  Portland. 

E.  C.  Giltner,  Portland. 

T.  S.  Townsend,  Portland. 

Fred   Muller,    Portland. 

O.  W.  Taylor,  Portland. 

G.  A.  Westgate,  Portland. 

A.   B.  Wastell,   Portland. 

C.  P.  Hurlburt,  Junction  City. 

Hon.  J.  A.  Ross,  Sioux  Falls. 


F.    Cumming's,    Albany. 

Peter    Paulas,    Albany. 

F.    H.    Brigham,    North    Bend. 

Oriel  Dodge,  North  Bend. 

T.    Cummings,   Albany. 

Y.  G.  Freeman,  Albany. 

E.    E.   Benedict,   Acme. 

O.    W.    Hurd,    Florence. 

Leo.  S.  Robinson,  Klamath  Falls. 


SOUTH   DAKOTA. 


William  Waibel,  Huron. 
Ed.   Haakinson,   Bonesteel. 
Hon.  J.  A.  Ross,  Sioux  Falls. 
Hon.  A.  B.  Kittredge,  Sioux  Falls. 
J.  H.  Jackson,  Aberdeen. 
C.   F.   Easton,  Aberdeen. 
Chas.   A.    Howard,    Aberdeen. 


C.  C.  Fletcher,  Aberdeen. 

John  Wade,  Aberdeen. 

Col.  Abraham  Boynton,  Wagner. 

C.   P.    Wasmer,    Deadwood. 

J.   L.   Bentley,   Deadwood. 

Hon.  E.  W.  Martin,  Deadwood. 


1'HirjPIMNES. 


M.  L.  McCollough,  Manila. 
Judge  C.  E.  Williams,  Manila. 
R.    M.    Jenkins,    Manila. 


John  Gibson,  Manila. 
Daniel  O'C'onner,  Manila. 
M.  A.  Clark,  Manila. 


TEXAS. 


J.   Gregg  Hill,    Austin. 
Geo.    E.    Barstow,    Barstow. 

C.  S.  E.  Holland,  Victoria. 
Jno.  W.  Warren,  San  Antonio. 
S.   W.   S.    Duncan,   Dallas. 
Frank  P.  Holland,  Dallas. 

W.  C.  Wells,  El  Paso. 
Ed.  F.  Harris,  Galveston. 
H.  H.  Haines,  Galveston. 
W.    W.    Turney,   El    Paso. 
L.  J.  Wortham,  Fort  Worth. 
G.    M.    Duncan,    Houston. 
Jack   Rothwell,   Houston. 
Hon.  John  H.  Stephens,  Vernon. 
Walter  Tips,  Austin. 

D.  J.  Neill,  Fort  Worth. 
O.  P.  Thomas,  Abilene. 
N.  A.  Shaw,  Texarkana. 

Judge  M.  S.  Mahon,  Port  Lavaca. 

Hon.   Eugene   Nolte,  Sequin. 

Hon.   Thomas    E.   Mathews,    Rockport. 

Hon.   J.   W.   Graves,   Houston. 

Hon.    J.    M.    Haller,    Yoakum. 

Hon.  Louis  Cobolina,  Brownsville. 

B.  B.  Cain,  Tyler. 
John  Durst,  Tyler. 

L.  N.   Josey,   San  Antonio. 
F.   F.  Collins,  Tyler. 
Col.  W.  M.  Lacy,  Abilene. 
Geo.  L.  Paxton,  Abilene. 

A.  H.   Kirby,  Abilene. 
Ed    S.    Hughes,    Abilene. 
Henry  Jones.  Abilene. 

S.    P.   Hardwick,   Abilene. 
J.  M.  Radford,  Abilene. 
H.  O.  Wooten,  Abilene. 
W.  H.  Swenson,  Abilene. 
Morgan   Weaver,  Abilene. 

C.  B.  Dorchester,  Sherman. 
Silas   Hare   Jr.,   Sherman. 

B.  L.  Fielder,  Sherman. 


Edward  Metz,  Sherman. 

J.  B.  Lewriglit,  Cuero. 

Walter  Reifferty,  Cuero. 

Jno.  H.  Kirby,  Houston. 

W.  E.  Leopold,  Houston. 

Pat  Foley,  Houston. 

Wm.  Masterson,  Houston. 

Jonathan   Lane.   Houston. 

S.   F.  Carter,   Houston. 

R.  L.  Jones.  Houston. 

Hon.   J.   E.  Furguson,  Temple. 

W.  H.  Shook,  Rusk. 

Jos,  F.  Meyer,  Houston. 

A.  Y.  Austin,  Houston. 

Jno.  T.  Scott,  Houston. 

W.  A.  Keeling,  Groesbeck. 

Leon  Mosbacher,  San  Angelo. 

A.  B.  W'bod,  Galveston. 

R.  T.  Ceanford,  Temple. 

H.   P.   Robertson,  Temple. 

Geo.  C.  Pendleton,  Temple. 

A.  M.  McFadden,  Victoria. 

J.  M.  Roseborough.  Victoria. 

Eke   T.   Pryor,   San   Antonio. 

W.   J.  Bryan,  Fort  Worth. 

W.    D.    Colven,   Fort    Worth. 

T.  J.  Martin,  Fort  Worth. 

Lee   Bibins,    Fort    Worth. 

A.  M.  McFadden,  Fort  Worth. 

R.  J.  Reeberg,  Fort  Worth. 

S.  B.  Burnett,  Fort  Worth. 

D.    B.   Gardner,    Fort   Worth. 

Asher  Richardson,  Fort  Worth. 

M.    R.   Nash,   Fort   Worth. 

M.    L.    Mertz,    Fort   Worth. 

H.   L.  Kokernot,   Fort  Worth. 

R.  W.  Prosser,  Fort  Worth. 

A.  S.  Gage,  Fort  Worth. 

A.   B.  Robertson,  Fort  Worth. 

Geo.  L.  Houston.  Fort  Worth. 

Will   Rushing,   Franklin. 


l'T4 


REPORT    OF    PROCEEDINGS 


UTAH. 


Hon.  John  C.  Cutler.  Salt  Lake  City. 
AVm.   R.    Wallace,   Salt  Lake  City. 
Stephen  H.   Love,  Salt  Lake  City. 
James  Chlpman,  Salt  Lake  City. 
Orson   H.    Hewlett,    Salt   Lake   City. 
W.    F.    .lames.    Salt   Lake   City. 
R.   K.  Thomas,  Salt  Lake  City. 
H.   C.    Whitney,   Salt  Lake  City. 
Simon    Bamberger,    Salt   Lake    City. 
Josiah    Harnett,    Salt    Lake    City. 
Geo   A.    Black.   Salt  Lake  City. 
Hugh    J.    Cannon,   Salt   Lake    City. 
H.   M.   Dinwoodey,   Salt  Lake  City. 
F.   A.   Druehl,   Salt   Lake   City. 


Dr.    H.    H.    Mayo,    Salt   Lake   City. 
J.    D.    Murdoek,    Salt   Lake   City. 
C.   N.  Stevell,   Salt  Lake  City. 
Geo.   M.   Cannon,   Salt  Lake  City. 
John    F.   Bennett,   Salt  Lake   City. 
.Jno.    G.    M.    Barnes,   Kaysville. 
Ira    D.    Wines.    Lehi. 
Capt.    Richard    W.    Young.    Salt   Lake 
City. 

Dan   Maguire,   Ogden. 

Wl    F.    Jensen,    Salt    Lake   City. 

J.    W.    Dunigan,   Summit. 

G.   A.    Johnson,   Summit. 


\V 

W.    L.   Steinweg,   North   Yakima 

N.    If.   Latimer,   Seattle. 

P.    H.    W.    Ross.    Ellensburg. 

J.    T.    McChesney,    Everett. 

M.   B.   Augustine,   Seattle. 

Hon.    Thomas    Burke,    Seattle. 

E.    E.    Brehm,    Seattle. 

Hon.  John  L.   Wilson,   Seattle. 

T.   S.    White,    Seattle. 

Capt.    J.    W.    Howell.   Seattle. 

Hon.   John   H.   McGraw,   Seattle. 

George  C.   Congdon.   Seattle. 

C.   B.   Yandell,  Seattle. 

Miller    Freeman,    Seattle. 


ASHINGTON. 

C.   R.   Shipley,  Love. 

W.   H.    Clem,   Love. 

L.  G.  Monroe.   Spokane. 

Hon.    E.    E.    Cushman,    Tacoma. 

Joseph    Havre,    Tacoma. 

E.  Walsh,  Tacoma. 

C.  J.  Webster,  Spokane. 

S.   C.   Scott,  Spokane. 

J.   H.   Jackson,   Aberdeen. 

C.    C.    Fletcher,   Aberdeen. 

E.    F.    Easton,    Aberdeen. 

John  Wade,   Aberdeen. 

Chas.    A.    Howard,    Aberdeen. 


\VVOMI\G. 


Robert   Homer.  Laramie. 
E.    Crumrine,    Laramie. 
W.   S.   Collins,  Basin. 
Geo.  T.  Beck,  Cody. 
Wm.  Daley,  Rawlins. 
John   Morton.    Douglas. 
Jno.    E.    Higgins,   Glenrock. 
E.   H.    Fourt,  Lander. 
A.   H.    Marble,    Cheyenne. 
W.   D.  Demning,  Cheyenne. 
E.    E.    Lonabaugh,    Sheridan. 


John    Hay,   Rock    Springs. 

Earl    Skinner.    Green    River. 

P.    J.    Quealy,    Kemmerer. 

J.   M.   Schwoob.   Cody. 

T.    A.    Cosgriff,    Cheyenne. 

Tim  Kinney.  Rock   Springs. 

E.  R.  Dinwiddie.   Sheridan. 

George    W.    Metcalf,    Douglas. 

George    Mitchell.    Uva. 

E.    E.    Peters,    Green    River. 

William  Cody   (Buffalo  Bill),  Cody. 


COMMERCIAL,    TRAY 

Orrin   S.  Henderson,  San   Francisco. 
J.   B.    Freed.  San  Francisco. 
J.   A.   Enquist,  Oakland. 
B.   B.   Galland.    San   Francisco. 
Milton  R.  Hall,  San   Francisco. 
W.  A.   Bernheim,  San  Francisco. 
S.    Moseley   Woods,   San    Francisco. 
W.   W.    Knickerbocker,   Oakland. 
E.    ( '.   Cliristmans,   San   Francisco. 
S.    T.    Bryer,    San    Francisco. 
A.    C.    Boldemann,   San    Francisco. 
Arthur  Glass,  San  Francisco. 
Fred  A.  Tanner,  San   Francisco. 
I.  D.  Kuh,  San  Francisco. 

A.  ];.    Wertheimer,    San    Francisco. 

B.  Hirschberg,  San  Francisco. 
A.   M.   Holton.   San  Francisco. 
Geo.  Bouhardt,   San   Francisco. 


ELERS'   ASSOCIATION. 

Emmett   Dunn.  San  Francisco. 
M.   B.  Mergen,  San  Francisco. 
.1.   H.  Horstman.   San  Franciscn. 
Walter  T.  Layton,  San  Francisco. 
Geo.   W.    Morehouse,   San   Francisco. 
Wm.    T.   Holling,   San    Francisco. 
H.  H.   Becker,   San  Francisco. 
A.  H.   Kasper,  San   Francisco. 
Otto  C.   Sievers,   San   Francisco. 
H.  L.  Judell,  San  Francisco. 
A.   Wertheim,    San   Francisco. 
J.   H.   Barker,  Oakland. 
H.  Welisch,  San  Francisco. 
August  Baer,  San  Francisco. 
Fred  C.  Eggers,   San  Francisco. 
J.   D.   Warde,   San   Francisco. 
Frank    McGeeney,    San    Francisco. 


TRAVELERS'    PROTECTIVE    ASSOCIATION. 

II.    R.   Basford,   San    Francisco.  H.  M.  Campe,  San  Francisco. 

G.   W.  Geanque,  San   Francisco.  J.  R.  Salazar,  San  Francisco. 

H.  T.   Moore.  San   Francisco.  Ike  Rosenblatt,  San  Francisco. 

E.  J.    W.unecke.  San   Francisco.  J.   J.   Baumgartner,  San   Francisco. 

R.    E.    Stan-,    San    Francisco.  A.  Hechweld,  San   Francisco. 


INDEX 


Page 
Addresses — 

Edward  R.  Taylor,  Mayor,  San  Francisco 13 

J.  N.  Gillett,  Governor  of  California 15 

C.  C.  Moore,  President  Chamber  of  Commerce 17 

Geo.  C.  Perkins,  United  States  Senator 17 

Julius  Kahn,  M.  C 18 

J.   B.  Case,   President 29 

Wm.  R.  Wheeler,  Assistant  Secretary  Commerce  and  Labor 36 

John  Barrett,  Director-General  Pan-American  Bureau 38 

James   P.    Morgan 46 

Col.  Fred  W.  Fleming 65 

Benjamin    Ide    Wheeler 71 

J.    C.    Stubbs 73 

John  C.  Cutler,  Governor  of  Utah 81 

Hon.  George  C.  Pardee 85 

James  F.  Callbreath,  Jr.,  Secretary  American  Mining  Congress.  .  .  88 

W.  H.  Dickson,  Attorney-General  of  Colorado 94 

Frank  H.  Short 97 

Col.  W.  F.  Baker 105 

James  H.  Peabody Ill 

Thomas  F.   Walsh Ill 

C.   J.    Blanchard 112 

Col.  Ike  T.  Pryor 122 

Fletcher  E.  Cutler 126 

Robt.  T.  Devlin 129 

George  W.  Dickie ■ 141 

J.  M.  Eddy 148 

J.  B'.  Lippincott 153 

A.  G.  Stacey 162 

L.  E.  Blochman 164 

Greene    Majors 165 

Hon.  W.  W.  Morrow 167 

Peter  Loggie 170 

Capt.  J.  W.  Howell 172 

A.  C.  Rulofson 174 

David  Starr  Jordan 179 

W.  F.  Jensen 191 

Arthur  R.  Briggs 195 

Advances  in  Freight  Rates 60 

Alaska-Yukon-Pacific  Exposition 59,  172 

Arid  Lands,  Reclamation  of 112 

Arkansas  River 117 

Aqueduct,  Los  Angeles 153 

Aubury,  Lewis  E 159 

Auxiliary  Organizations    261 

Baker,  Col.  W.  F 105,  172,  190 

Barrett,  Hon.  John 

Basford,    R.    H 224 

Bayou  i^a  Fourche 61 


276  REPORT    OF    PROCEEDINGS 

Page 

Beet    Sugar    Industry 59 

Berwick,  Edward 64,  158,  188,  216,  235 

Blanchard,  C.  J 112 

Blochman,  L.  E 152 

Bradley,  E.J 61 

Breakwater,  Pacific  Grove 158 

Briggs,  Arthur  R 10,  54,  195,  23S 

Bryan,  Wm.  Jennings 24 

Buchtel,  H.  A 131 

Bureau  of  Mines 159 

Burton,   G.   W 78,   189,   223 

By-laws   and   Rules 5 

California,  Future  Greatness 126 

Wine  Industry 158 

Oil  Industry 164 

Callbreath,  Jr.,  James  F 88,133 

Canals   116 

Cannon,   Geo.   M 228 

Carnegie  Institute 167,  170 

Case,  J.  B 3,  29,  36,  73 

Chartz,  Alfred 78,  101,  163 

Commerce,  Pacific  Ocean 141 

Commission,   Irrigation 62 

Conservation   85 

Pacific   Coast 157 

Committees  on 

Permanent  Organization 34,  104 

Resolutions     35 

Congdon,  Geo.  C 59 

Congress,  Sessions  of  the 2 

Next  Session  of  the 131 

Invitations  to  hold 131,  132,  133 

Origin  of  Trans-Mississippi 162 

Conservation  of  Minerals,  Mining  and  the 88 

Conservation  of  Natural  Resources :  . .  .25,  81,  97 

Commission   85 

Coos  Bay 60,  170 

Craig,  Hugh 161,  162,  248 

Craig,  Mary  Lynde 170,  247 

Creamery  Interests,  Trans-Mississippi  Section 191 

Cutler,  Fletcher  E 126 

Cutler,  Jno.  C 81 

Dairy  Interest,  Trans-Mississippi  Section 191 

Delegates,  Entertainment  of 114 

List  of 259 

Delegations  report 35 

Denver,  Invitation  from 131,  132 

Next  Session  at 140 

Devlin,  Robt.  T 129 

Development,  Power 158 

Dickie,  Geo.  W 55,  141 

Dickson,  W.  H 94,  116 

"Dixie" '.  .  .         136 

Dixon,  J.   S 63 

Drainage  129 

Dry  Farming   195 


TRANS-MISSISSIPPI    COMMERCIAL    CONGRESS  277 

Page 

Duties  of  Railway  Companies 58 

Dutton,  Sam  F 104,  133,  161 

Eddy,  J.  M 58,  148 

Election  of  Officers 161,  201 

Electric  Power 117 

Entertainment  of  Delegates 114 

Equal   Suffrage   League 63 

Executive  Committee   34,  252 

Extension  of  Navigation  Laws 117 

Fisher,  Walter  L 62 

Fisk,  Postmaster    220 

Fleming,  Col.  Fred  W 20,  65 

Forest  Lands 159 

Fortifying  Coos  Bay 60 

Francis,  Arthur  F 48,  252 

Francis,  David  R 24 

Freight,  Interstate  Transportation  of 59 

Advance  in  Rates 60 

Future  Greatness  of  California 126 

Galliard,   W.    W 61 

Gavel,  Presentation  of 21 

Geological  Survey 125 

Gillett,  Governor  J.N 15 

Good  Roads  148 

Gosper,  J.  J 141,  153,  187,  248 

Gove,  Aaron  59 

Government-owned  Line,  Pacific  Coast 61 

Railroad 160 

Grazing,    Public 58 

Gresham,  Walter    27 

Gulf  and  Coast  Harbors 193 

Hall,  D.  P 117- 

Hamilton,  J.  G 122,  157 

Harbors 116,  193 

Harger,  C.   M 23 

Harney,    P.    J 64 

Harriman,    E.    H 73 

Harris,  Ed  F 19,  162,  193,  236 

Hart,  W.  O .21,  116,  134,  201,  213 

Hawaii    46 

Hibbard,   I.   N 146 

Highways,  Public  58 

Howell,  Captain  J.  W 172 

Humboldt  Bay  157 

Hutchins,  C.  J 233 


278  REPORT    OF    PROCEEDINGS 

Page 
Illustrations — 

Frontispiece,  Past  Presidents. 

Portraits,  Honorable  Edward  R.  Taylor,  Mayor  of  San  Francisco. 

J.    B.    Case,    President. 

J.  N.  Gillett,  Governor  of  California. 

C.   C.    Moore. 

Geo.  C.  Perkins,  United  States  Senator. 

Julius   Kahn,   Member  of  Congress. 

F.  J.  V.  Skiff. 

Wm.  R.  Wheeler. 

President   Roosevelt. 

John  Barrett. 

James  F.  Morgan. 

Arthur  F.  Francis. 

Arthur  R.  Briggs. 

Fred  W.  Fleming. 

Benjamin  Ide  Wheeler. 

J.  C.  Stubbs. 

E.  H.  Harriman. 

John  C.  Cutler. 

Geo.  C.  Pardee. 

James  F.  Callbreath  Jr. 

Frank  H.  Short. 

Colonel  W.  F.  Baker. 

James  H.  Peabody. 

Thomas  F.  Walsh. 

Colonel  Ike  T.  Pryor. 

Fletcher  E.  Cutler. 

George  W.   Dickie. 

Improvement  of  Arkansas  River  117 

Inland  Waterways 105 

Interstate  Transportation 59 

Insurance,  Western 65 

Invitations — 

From  Merchants'  Exchange 33 

To  Join  Conservation  League 62 

From    Equal    Suffrage    League    63 

From  Venice  of  America 63 

To  Hold  Congress 131,  132,  133 

Invocation 11 

Irish,  John  P 158 

Irrigation  and  Disposition  of  Public  Lands 94 

Japanese    Ambassador    24 

Jensen,  W.  F 191 

Jordan,  David   Starr 179 

Kahn,  Julius   18 

Keith,  Mary  McHenry 118 

Kirby,  John  H 28 

Lands,  Forest 159 

Lands,  Restoration  of  Withdrawn 116 

Latin  Republics,  Closer  Commercial  Union  with 61 

Latin  Republics,  Message  from  the 38 

Loggie,  Peter 60,  170 


TRANS-MISSISSIPPI    COMMERCIAL    CONGRESS  279 

Page 

Majors,  Greene 160,  165 

Mare  Island  Navy  Yard 17  1 

Marshall,    Brigadier-General    25 

Marston,  W.  H 117 

Marum,    D.    P 62,  226 

Matthews,  P.  W 157 

Mayor    Taylor,    Address    by    13 

McCollongh,  Max  L 119 

Merchant  Marine 160 

Merchants'    Exchange 33 

Messages — 

President  Roosevelt   23    36 

W.    H.    Taft    '23 

Wm.    Jennings    Bryan     24 

David    R.    Francis    24 

Japanese  Ambassador 24 

Brigadier-General    Marshall     25 

•  Gifford    Pinchot     25 

Secretary    Straus    25 

F.  J.  V.  Skiff 26 

H.    R.    Whitmore    27 

Walter    Gresham     27 

Geo.   L.   Sheldon    28 

John  H.  Kirby    28 

Walter   L.   Fisher    62 

Postmaster   General    Meyer    62 

.) .  S.  Dixon    63 

Robt.  L.  Owen 160 

Venice  Chamber  of  Commerce 190 

From  Twenty  Latin  Republics 38 

Meyer,    Postmaster    General     62 

Miller,  O.  H 125 

Mines,  Bureau  of 159 

Mining  and  the  Conservation  of  Minerals 88 

Moore,    C.    C 17,  60 

Morgan,  James   F 46,  59 

Morrow,  W.  W , 167 

National  Congress,  Recommendations  to   253 

Natural  Resources,   Conservation  of    25 

New  Orleans  Invites  Congress 134 

Next  Session  of  Congress 140 

Nieto,  Rabbi  Jacob 11 

Officers — 

Election  of 161,  201 

Official  Call  8 

Official  Roster  3 

Oil  Industry  of  California 164 

Origin  Trans-Mississippi  Commercial  Congress  162 

Pony  Express   165 

Pacific  Coast — 

Sanitary  Conditions  on   '. 60 

Government  Owned  Line   61 

Ocean  Commerce 141 

Commission   157 


2S0  REPORT    OF    PROCEEDINGS 

Page 

Pacific  Grove  Breakwater 158 

Parcels    Post    64,    213,    246 

Pardee,  George  C 85,  158,  178 

Peabody,  James  H Ill 

Pearl    Harbor    46 

Perkins,    Senator    17 

Permanent  Members    201,  259 

Permanent  Organization,  Committee  on 34,  104 

Pinchot,  Gifford   25 

Pinkham,  L.  E : : 213 

Philippine  Islands  119 

Philippines,  Navigation  Laws  for 117 

Philippines,  Tariff  Laws  for 119 

Political  Conventions  121 

Pony  Express 165 

Possibilities  of  Coos  Bay 170 

Postmaster-General    Meyer    62 

Power,  Development 158 

Power,  Electric   117 

Presentation  of  Gavel   21 

Preservation  of  Our   Fishes 179 

Pryor,  Ike  T 58,  70,  122 

Public  Grazing     58 

Public  Highways     58 

Public  Lands,  Irrigation  and  Disposition  94 

Railroad,  Government  Kin 

Rates,  Advances  in  Freight ' 58 

Reciprocity    58 

Reclamation  of  Arid  Lands 112 

Recommendations     253 

Reports — 

Delegations    35 

Secretary    Francis    4S 

Committee   on   Resolutions    205 

Resolutions — 

Committee  on  35,  205 

Public    Highways     .  . .  .' 58 

Public    Grazing    58 

Duties  of  Railway  Companies    58 

Reciprocit  y    58 

Interstate  Transportation  of  Freight   59 

Beet    Sugar    Industry    59 

American   Merchant   Marine    59 

Alaska-Yukon-Pacific  Exposition    59 

Advances  in  Freight  Rates 60 

Fortifying  Coos  Bay  60 

Sanitary  Condition  on  Pacific  Coast   60 

Government-Owned  Pacific  Coast   Line  61 

Closer  Commercial  Relations  With    Latin  Republics    61 

Irrigation  Commission   62 

The  Siuslaw  Harbor 63 

Parcels  Post 64 

Sacramento  and  San  Joaquin  Rivers 64 

Bayou  La  Fourche 61 

Rivers,  Harbors  and  Canals 116 

Restoration  of  Withdrawn  Lands 116 


TRANS-MISSISSIPPI    COMMERCIAL    CONGRESS  281 

Page 

Improvement  of  the  Arkansas  River 117 

Extension  of  Coastwise  Navigation  Laws  to  the  Philippines 117 

Water  Rights  and  Electric  Power  117 

Woman  Suffrage  '.'.  118 

Revision  of  Tariff  for  Philippines '. 119 

National  Political  Conventions  for  San  Francisco 121 

Thanks  to  Press  Associations '. .  125 

United  States  Geological  Survey 125 

Humboldt  Bay '. 157 

Pacific  Coast  Commission '. . . . . .  157 

California  Wine  Industry   158 

Roads  and  Trails '. 158 

Pacific  Grove  Breakwater '. '. 158 

Power  Development 1 58 

Bureau  of  Mines 159 

Forest  Lands '. 159 

Government  Owned  Railroad 160 

San  Francisco  Chamber  of  Commerce  160 

Carnegie  Institute 170 

Gulf  and  Coast  Harbors   193 

Resources,  Conservation  of  Natural    25 

Responses — 

Ed  F.  Harris,  Texas    19 

Herbert  Strain.  Montana   20 

Fred  W.  Fleming,  Missouri   20 

Tom   Richardson,   Oregon    21 

L.  W.  Shurtliff,  Utah  21 

W.  O.  Hart,  Louisiana  21 

A.  C.  Trumbo,  Oklahoma 22 

C.   M.   Harger,   Kansas    23 

Restoration  of  Withdrawn  Lands 116 

Restrictions,  Removal  of  1 60 

Revision  of  Tariff  Laws  for  Philippines 119 

Richardson,  Tom 21 .  61,  121 

Richardson,  W.  H 194,  221 

Rickards,   Governor    219 

Rivers,  Harbors  and  Canals 116 

Roads  and  Trails 158 

Roads,  Good  148 

Roosevelt,    President     23,  36 

Roster,    Official    3 

Rules  and  By-Laws    5 

Rulofson,  A.  C '. 174 

Sacramento  and  San  Joaquin  Rivers 64 

San  Francisco,  Political  Conventions  for 121 

Chamber  of  Commerce  160 

Sanitary  Conditions  on  Pacific  Coast 60 

Scarrett,  E.  L 79 

Secretary's  Report 48 

Selection  of  City  140 

Senator  Perkins 17,  18 

Sessions  of  the  Congress 2 

Skiff,  F.  J.  V 26 

Sheldon,  Governor 28 

Short,  Frank  H 97,  117 

Shurtliff,  L.  W 21 


282  REPORT    OF    PROCEEDINGS 

Page 

Siuslaw  Harbor 63 

Smith,  John  Henry 119,  147 

South  America,  Commercial  Relations  with  38 

Si  eer,  Robt.  W 132 

Stacey,  A.  G 162 

State  Vice-Presidents 34 

Strain,  Herbert    20,  249 

Straus,  Oscar  S 25 

Stubbs.  J.  C 73 

Suffrage,  Woman   118 

United  States  Geological  Survey  125 

Venice  Chamber  of  Commerce 190 

Venice  of  America 63 

Vice-Presidents,  State 34 

Vote,  Parcels  Post 246 

Vote,  Thanks 249 

Vote  to  Hold  Congress 140 

Walsh,  Thos.  F Ill,  203 

Wastell,  A.  B 60 

Water  Rights  and  Electric  Power 117 

Waterways,  Inland 105 

Welcome    Address,    Mayor    Taylor 13 

Welcome  Address,  Governor  Gillett 15 

Welcome  Address,  C.  C.  Moore 17 

Welcome  Address,  Senator  Perkins 17 

Welcome  Address,  Congressman  Kahn  18 

Western  Insurance 65 

West  of  the  Mississippi  River — What  Does  It  Mean? 71 

What  Is  Dry  Farming? 195 

Wheeler,  Benj.  Ide  71 

Wheeler,  Honorable  Wm.  R 36 

Whitmore,  H.  R 27 

Williams,  Maude  F 136 

Wine  Industry,  California 15S 

Withdrawn  Lands,  Restoration  of 116 

Woman  Suffrage 118,  247 

Wright,  Leroy  A 157 


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